Looking Back: Hair

*Beware-- Picture overload!*

I have decided that I am going back natural. It has been a long and hard decision, but it is one that has to be made. The last time I went for my roots to be touched up, I had a bad reaction to it. The next day my scalp was all burnt, itchy, and peeling. I did not hurt, but it definitely was something new for me. When it happened, I actually had not realized that I was pregnant,  but once I found out I put two and two together and figured it had to be from the hormones. I decided I was not going to take another chance with it, and I am giving up my blonde, blonde hair. I am so very sad to see it go so soon, but I think it will be what is best for me. I thought I would do a look back on the journey with my blonde hair before going back to my natural color, which is dirty blonde.

Oh, I'm definitely going to miss the blonde hair! I'm glad I got plenty of pictures, though!

Next time, I will look totally different!

Blessings

Now that I have been slightly lazy, I have thought about so many things. Thank the laziness on the fatigue, but I am getting better with it.

Some of the things that I have come to realize are:
1. I can't wait for Mr. Man to get home. I always miss him, and I always appreciate him no matter if he is home or away, but now, I really, really, really appreciate him and all he has done for me. And I think it is time he gets back home and starts back up again because dishes really make me sick, cleaning in general makes me sick and wears me out. I want some of his yummy food. Food is just not all that appetizing when I have to cook it myself. I need sleep. I need his armpit and his butt! So I can lay exactly how I was comfortable laying before he left with my head in his armpit and my leg propped on his butt. I just need sleep, and I need him home so I can successfully achieve it.

2. When we went to Italy, I "sort of" prayed to a fertility saint. I do not remember her name, but I remember all these wreaths and baby things pinned up by her designated chapel. Mr. Man did it first, and said I should too, but since I'm not Catholic I had no idea what I was doing. Well, if you do the calculations, we made this baby in Italy towards the end of our trip. WOW! God works in mysterious ways.

3. On Sunday, the Sunday that we enjoyed our picnic beach day. I do not know if I blogged about it, but it was the Sunday before Mr. Man left for California and the Sunday before we took the pregnancy tests. Well, on that day, there were a bunch of kids running around playing at the beach. As we were sitting there talking, playing with Buttons, he says "I think I'm ready." I had no idea what he was talking about. So I tell him this, and then he does not say a word, so I look at him all dazed and confused. He then nods at the kids in the water playing. Initially, my reaction was "Uhhh duh! You better be ready because I have been off my birth control for 1.5 years." Mr. Man proceeded to say, "If we need to stick thermometers up your butt every day and weigh yourself, then lets do it." I just laughed at him. We came home and of course this was in my head, so I thought about it for a couple of days. That's when I thought to myself, "Ok, if it doesn't happen within the next few months, then I will consider doing something about it." Who would have known that just 1 day later, I would realize I was pregnant. Not me, that's for sure.

By the way, we had decided when we started trying and I had some problems in the past that when I was 23 we would see a doctor. That is why we never did anything about it because we did want it to happen on God's time and the right time. We knew we were young and there was no need to force it. Plus, we both wanted it to be a surprise. That explains why I did not do much charting or anything.

4. I have many things to be thankful for. Yes, I may be tired. Yes, school may be kicking my butt since I decided to double up. Yes, I may get nauseated here or there. Yes, I may have already gained weight. And yes, I may want to sleep the day away and may successfully do it. But I also have amazing friends, amazing family, and an amazing support group. I also have NOT thrown up at all. I can control my cravings, which I love. I can come and go as I please and my friends are so flexible. Mr. Man is being so involved and constantly wanting me to turn on the webcam so he can see "our babies". No, I'm not having twins. It's our baby boy and my stomach :)

5. I am extremely thankful that I have no responsibilities that make me be on a schedule. School is done on my time. No job, equals sleeping in until 11am some mornings. I get time to walk our baby boy and sit outside and read books. I have time to talk to Mr. Man even on his tight and busy schedule. I have time to talk on the phone when family calls to check on me. I am always home cuddled up on the couch or in my bed with my baby boy. I just love that I can do whatever I want whenever I want, and I give a big applause to pregnant women that work or are SAHM's during pregnancy. It's exhausting.

So about me. I will be 11 weeks in two days and not much has changed. I still am having the same "symptoms." My boobs barely fit in my bras, which is absolutely fascinating!! I already have a pouch that is fairly obvious; however, I do still fit in my size 0 pants. Thanks to them being low-waisted and my hips not spreading just yet! I will post pictures of my progression as I get more confident about things. I am definitely getting a lot of my energy back, which I am so thankful for. I am just starting to be hot all the time, which has been perfect timing for the cool weather that has finally hit England. I can sleep comfortably without sweating. That is a huge improvement from just a couple of days ago. Other than that, things are the same. Nothing fantastic going on. Mr. Man will be home Sunday, so I can not wait to have him home experiencing all of this with me.

I also wanted to say thank you to all my readers for the kind comments on the pregnancy. You guys are awesome, and put a smile on my face! I hope you enjoy this journey just as much as I know I will! Ya'll are really so sweet and kind, and I am thankful to have you all, too!

Until next time.... which is so unpredictable during this day and age!

That 22 year old Housewife (Guest Post)

Here is the guest post from Lauren at That 22 year old Housewife. She just recently celebrated her 23rd birthday, so show her some birthday love. She shared with us 23 things that she never thought she would be at this age. This is very interesting and inspiring. I hope you enjoy, and be sure to go show her blog some love. Much thanks to you Lauren for this!

 

Well it's official... this 22 yr old housewife is officially 23 as of Thursday the 26th!!! First, here are a few things I never thought I'd being doing at the young ripe age of 23 and yet couldn't be happier doing them :0) 

SO here it goes my 23 things I never thought I'd being doing at 23!

1. Give up my shoe collection and designer bags for diaper bags and rain boots.
2. Be super excited when Nickelodeon's Story Time or Disney On Ice comes in town and less excited when Rhianna, Britney Spears, or any other artist I used to love comes to concert.
3. Pick Disney World as my number 1 choice for vacation (with or without the kids)
4. Have more fun shopping at Gymboree and Baby Gap than t Express, BCBG or BEBE.
5. Planning parties with juice pouches - watermelon and strawberry lemonade as opposed to planning parties with strawberry margaritas and watermelon Jello shots.
6. Explain (lie) to my 5 year-old what Lady Gaga means when she talks about riding on a disco stick.
7. Be a blog-aholic. I always wondered who had time for this and why they would want to do it! lol Now i know ;0)
8. Sweep up cheerios 6 times a day (at least)
9. Have a 35 sq ft play yard set up in my living room.
10. Have a whale-themed bathroom in my house.
11. Have Up, Cars, Beauty and the beast on blu ray
12. Call my girlfriends not to talk about boys or clothes but to talk about what color my daughter's boogies were that day, and find out how their child's ear infection is going.
13. Walk around anywhere public with spit up down my back not knowing until my honey gets home and asks, "Hey whats that down your back?"
14. Exchanges my business clothes, pencil skirts, high heels and skinny jeans for yoga pants and tank tops. (These make chasing around a baby much easier.)
15. Ask myself when the last time I showered was... and have a tough time remembering. (But remember that I have given a "little" someone else 3 baths that day!)
16. Be able to change a diaper, while wrestling my 11 month old and help my son with his transformer.
17. Be completely out of the loop when it comes to the Bachelorette and Desperate housewives but know exactly whats up with Handy Mandy and Olivia
18. Find myself Humming the Handy Manny song throughout the day
19. Find Fruit snacks, gerber peach puffs, pacifiers, popcorn etc in my couch, bed, purse, car etc.
20. or also find some of these things in my shirt, bra and hair at the end of the day...
21. Know how to make "under the sea" mac and cheese with octopus hot dogs and gold fish
22. Have an amazing boyfriend that I know I cannot live without. He is my strength, my heart and completes my soul.
23. Have 2 amazing, beautiful children that I couldn't imagine my life without.

Thank you for reading my guest post! I hope you enjoyed it!

SURPRISE!

Guess what everyone??!!


We're expecting!!

Finally! After a year and a half of trying and Mr. Man being gone for 8 of those months, we did it!! We are so freaking excited. Poor Mr. Man found out just 3 days before he left, so he is so anxious to get home. He's being so cute about it. This is exactly why I love him so much. He's absolutely amazing.

We are 10 weeks and 1 day pregnant. Our estimated due date is March 23, 2011. It has been the best kept secret since sliced bread, seriously. We did not find out until I was already 8 weeks pregnant. Can you believe it?! I did not get sick. I only got nauseated when I looked at dirty dishes, and I was extremely tired. I still had been working out and dieting like crazy, so it was all a surprise. Which is exactly what we wanted.

For those of you who have been following me for a while know that we have been trying for a while. We started last April, but it obviously was not meant to be. Now a year and a half down the road, we are ecstatic and have realized that it is perfect timing for us. Mr. Man is not due to deploy again until next September-ish, so YAY! on that. I will be reaching a point in my school were I will be free for the baby around January-ish, which I am due in March. The couches were bought at perfect timing because they came in 3 days after I found out I was pregnant. Plus, my sister is pregnant, so there is enough gap in between the babies.

We are so excited. Our families are so excited. I am extra pumped to be going through this with my sister. I really see her with a little girl. I want so badly for her to have a little girl, so I can spoil her to pieces. Dresses, ballerina slippers, tutus, etc... I see it on my sister's daughter. Ahhhh!! I can't wait to find out what she is having. She finds out September 15!

So the dreaded question. What do we want to have, boy or girl?

I see a little boy all the time. I have always said I would like to have a boy first. To be the protector. Mainly because I see boy clothes and get all excited. I see little girl clothes and things, and I immediately think of my sister. I'm  not sure why, but that is just how I see us. It's really weird. I would love for us both to have the same sex, so they can be best friends, but then I would love to experience each of us having a different sex. I am kind of wishy-washy on that part. I want her to have what I do not have and for me to have what she does not have that way it is like two totally different experiences and we can do for each other the things we can not immediately do for the ones we have now. If you know what I mean...

Mr. Man wants a boy. He's the last boy of his family, so the pressure is on. His Dad really wants his "own grandson." The pressure is on for that, but really I think a little girl is just what Mr. Man needs. A little girl to stuck hip to hip with him. I know she would be a Daddy's Little Girl because aren't they all?! But I know what his plans are for a little boy, and we agree on so much for a little boy, that I want him to have his little boy. Plus, if we have a boy first, he told me the rest can be a surprise! And I am all about surprises!

Which brings me to, Will we find out the sex?

I have a feeling Mr. Man will win this battle. Not because he is begging for it, but because it will be easier on everyone with us being so far away. They will want to do for us and send things, but they want it to be personal and not just neutral. I respect that. However, I really want a surprise, so who knows? Only God.

How did I find out? How did I tell Mr. Man?

Like I said before, I did not really have any symptoms. I was still working out like crazy and on a low to no carb diet. We did not find out until I was 8 weeks already. Mr. Man was getting ready to go to California, and there had been some comments that he made to me that made me think I could be. I did not really take them to heart because I really did not think I was. Well, we were going to be apart for 2 days because we were both so busy, then on the 3rd day he was leaving for California early in the morning. He had been on nights, so I went ahead and took a test while he was sleeping during the day. I did a digital one. After I took it, I stared at it with my heart racing. It was like I knew, but was in denial. I just stared and stared and the little downloading sign just kept turning and turning. I finally told myself that there was no way and just set it down. I figured I would leave it for Mr. Man to read it when he woke up, but when I reached for my glasses, there is was, big as day, PREGNANT! I was like there is no way! I put my glasses on and grabbed it, and had the biggest smile on my face. I went into the bedroom, flipped the light on, and told Mr. Man that I "think" I had something to tell him. When he picked up his head, I tossed the test to him. He was like, "What is it? What is it?" All freaking out and trying to punch it. It was hilarious. He even asked me if it was a bug! (Hilarious!) I was shaking and laughing so hard. I told him to just look at it. So he finally did, and he had the biggest grin on his face. It was perfect! And very memorable!

I went to the store and bought like 5 more tests, and they were all positive. Mr. Man left 3 days later, and 2 days after that I saw a doctor.

Since Mr. Man was going away, we decided to mail surprises to the soon to be grandparents. This is why I have not announced it or posted much on blogger. Because everything I do, think, or see revolves around something to do with pregnancy. I did not want to give any hints.

Well, now it is out. We made the final announcement today, which was on Facebook. The way I announced it was by putting "First came love, then came marriage, now 4 years later comes the baby and the baby carriage." It was so adorable. I thought anyways.

So there it is. There is why I have been hiding out! Now, I can escape and be free!!

Thoughts of the Day:

Luke 7:50
Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

Proverbs 4:23-27
Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.

Deuteronomy 6:5
Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

Psalm 100
Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his [a] ; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Top 2 Tuesday

Top 2 Biggest Indulgences!

1. Shopping in General. Primark gets a lot of my money. I mostly buy clothes, purses, and shoes. It's an addiction.

2. Makeup. 

Sorry for not being around much. I am alive and well. There is so much going on right now. One that I would like to share with you all in hopes that the family can get some prayers and kind thoughts.

My Pop, my Dad's Dad, passed away on Saturday night. He was 75 years old. He was in the hospital for a month. He went in because he had pneumonia. Then they found an infection in his lungs. They thought they knew what it was and began giving him antibiotics for it, but the antibiotics was not working. He was doing very well. He began talking, walking, and eating again, but the doctors told him a few days before he passed that nothing was working and he would probably have to get put on a ventilator and stay in the hospital until they found out what was wrong or find something to help him. He was completely conscious and aware of everything. When that happened, he decided that if he was meant to go, then that was his calling. He wrote a letter to my Memaw (his wife) and my Dad. They are the ones that stayed up at the hospital night and day with him. He basically told them that he was tired of fighting and did not want to suffer, so he felt that this was the end. He told them that he knew he was going to heaven and he would see them in heaven. It was a really sweet letter and a great way to say goodbye. The family immediately accepted it, and two days later, he passed away in his sleep, the way he wanted.

He lived an active and fulfilling life. He was still working full time offshore for an oil company and hunting and fishing nonstop on his days off. He had just recently rented out a camp at Toledo Bend and bought a pontoon boat. Him, my brother, and my Dad had been spending countless weekends and hours out there fixing it up and making it a home away from home. As you can see, this was very unexpected.

He left behind his wife, my wonderful Memaw, and his 5 children along with 8 grandchildren and two great grandchildren that are both still unborn. Everyone was able to be there by his side except for me, but I did get to talk to him before and tell him a little about my life and what was going on with me. Things that I have yet to share with the family. It was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do, but he was in great spirit and it was the best I could do. And I know he understood. He accepted and apologized to me for the decision he made and told me he wished he could see me one more time, but I told him that he will be with me everyday of my life from now until forever, so he had nothing to worry about. And I was well aware of that. He laughed, he cried, we hung up. I would never regret that moment in life. I would never regret a thing I told him. I was glad he was here to share that little moment with me, and nothing will ever take that away.

His funeral will be tomorrow, so if you all could please say a prayer for the family and friends that are involved in this I would greatly appreciate it. Our family is a very close family, so we definitely need it. Thank you in advance.

As far as Mr. Man, he is still in California. He still has 2 weeks there before coming home. We hardly get to talk because of the time difference, but we are making it work the best we can. The little terd got to meet my MMA boyfriend, shake his hand, and talk to him. MMA is Mixed Martial Arts for those of you who do not know.  I seriously told him he better not wash his body until he gets home. I was seriously so jealous! Way passed jealous to be honest. Mr. Man felt horrible because it was an accident. They happened to be walking the halls during the fight. Mr. Man had to use the bathroom and Urijah Faber just got done introducing the match that had started. I asked if he took pictures. Nope he forgot the camera. I asked if he got an autograph or something for me. Nope because he was not prepared.  WTHeck?! Mr. Man is good for nothing. Now, I have to live the rest of my life knowing that MY husband met MY MMA boyfriend and I never will... Sad face! Hahaha! Totally kidding. But I will admit, I was pretty bummed about it.

BIG, BIG SMILE!! But he is such a little cutie when he fights. I feel like it is more of a high school crush than a celebrity crush because he kind of looks like a little kid in my opinion, but hey that doesn't the fact that I stalk his MMA fights like crazy! I asked Mr. Man if he still had his shaggy hair because he debated chopping it off. Well, he does. I love his shaggy hair! I love his facial hair!

And Mr. Man if you are reading this, I do still love you more! Promise! :o)

I Will Always Love a Man in Uniform

I apologize for this just now getting posted! I scheduled it to post yesterday since I knew it would be a busy day for me, and well... it did not post. Here it is a day late! Please forgive me! It's from Stetsons, Spurs, and Stilettos. Be sure to show her some love! 

I have to admit that when Mrs. Ma’am asked me to be her “guest blogger,” I was speechless!  I got so frantic because I didn’t know what to write about.  Yeah, I know, how could my big mouth and I not have any idea what to write about?  I never did one before, but I knew I wanted to keep it military related.  After all, we read each others’ blogs because we like reading what is so familiar to us.  We like reading stories where we can say, “I know exactly what you mean!”  Then finally, my idea just smacked me in the face.  “I’ll write about how I always wanted to be a military wife!”

I know what you all are thinking, “She what?!  This chick is crazy!”  I’m probably one of the few women who have ever said that out loud.  Most women just happened to fall in love with a man in uniform and others were already with their man when he enlisted.  I promise you that I did not marry him for the pay, the healthcare, the benefits, or anything like that; nor did I purposely seek out a military.  I didn’t “settle” for my husband because he was in the Army;  I married solely based on love.

I only grew up knowing my dad’s father, so he was the only grandfather I ever really had.  He served for 20 years in the Army, fighting in Korea and Vietnam, and living in places like Germany (twice), Colorado, Hawaii (where my father was born), and finally settling in Pennsylvania.  Despite my grandmother’s experience with separation - they only lived together for 1 year in their first 5 years of marriage – she loved the lifestyle. 

At family dinner’s, my grandfather would tell stories of their lives together.  My grandmother would talk about how my uncle had colic and their German landlord would come upstairs to their apartment and take him.  She would bring him back up when he finished crying and he would sleep all night.  Both of them would talk about the attractions in Germany: the architecture and history.  My dad even has a piece of the Berlin Wall, which the kids would steal.  They talked about the beaches of Hawaii, the odd snow of Colorado.

 Probably the best thing of all was when they discussed their friends.  They met Bernice and Bill when they were neighbors in Colorado.  They met Bruce and Sue when they lived near each other in Germany.  Chris and Karen, while I don’t remember where they were from, but my Grandparents met them somewhere along the way too.  While I was growing up, these people were just like family.  To this day, my grandparents still travel to visit with them.

Sure, I knew about some of the “better” things in the lifestyle, but it convinced me that if I ever met a military man that I loved, I wouldn’t even have to think about marrying him.  I wanted to see the world and live in different states, not be tied down to one area, experience the friendships and the sisterly bond between the wives, and have the relationship that can only come from months and years of separation.  Most of all I wanted to marry a man that had the guts to be a part of something bigger than himself, to teach me the things I need to know about myself.  When my dad found out we wanted to get married, he said, “You’re going to have an amazing life.”

My husband, Frank, is the most unselfish person I know and the smartest one.  He wanted to join the Army for his entire life.  When I met him, I knew he was in the Army, I knew he planned to commission as an officer, and I knew he wanted to make it a career.  His planning and determination really pulled me in to him.  I mean, this guy’s ultimate goal was to join the Army and actually DO something, not just do something and hope it changes someone’s life.  He chose to risk his life for those who aren’t fighting and for those who want freedom within their own country.  That is the most selfless thing a person could ever do.  Before we even got married, after our first two-month separation, he asked me this:  “Would you see getting married to me as a limitation at all, whether in your career or your personal life?”  It didn’t even take me a second to respond, “not at all.”

Although I wanted to be a military wife, I also wanted love.  I definitely found that in Frank.  I just never knew this kind of love.  It’s amazing how you get so used to having someone with you all the time, that it almost seems like you take them for granted.  Knowing that your husband could leave at any time, get hurt at any time, or die at any time, really makes you re-think your relationship.  It helps you realize that your time is so precious, that both your love and your heart must be incredibly strong. 

The separations, no matter the length of time, are incredibly difficult.  In our 18 months of marriage, we have lived together for 3 months.  I felt my heart breaking when he left.  Yes, he was only on TDY, but I hated being away from him.  Then we started writing letters.  Yep, I mean old school, pen-and-lined-paper, mail-it-with-a-stamp-upside-down letter.  Just reading the words I know he worked so hard to write helped me to find a sense of calmness within myself; holding the same piece of paper he took so much time to hand-write made me feel like I had something of his.  Now here we are, a year since the separation, and he is preparing to deploy soon. 

I know it will be a tough year.  My family and friends are not here to support me.  I’m only just beginning to form some friendships.  It makes us think back to all the things we left to begin this “new” life. It’s hard saying goodbye to your family and all those who have seen you grow up.  The ones who changed your diaper, taught you to ride a bike, or taught you the best way to throw a football.  It’s hard to say goodbye to your friends who knew you when you had huge dorky glasses and braces; who knew you when you wore Spandex pants and Jellies.  It’s hard saying goodbye to your best friend, who cried with you when your other friend died; who was with you for every first day of school from Kindergarten through college.  Yet somehow, we all do it, often times only for love.  It’s no longer about what we want anymore, but helping to move our soldiers forward.

We pick up ourselves, start fresh, not forever saying goodbye to the old life, but saying, “I’ll see you later.” 

So yes, I always did want to marry a soldier.  Every day I see him put on that uniform, I’m proud of him.  Every day he discusses something with me about deployment, I’m proud of him.  To this day, I don’t feel like I’m missing out on anything.  I’ve formed a couple great friendships in the short time I’ve been away from home.  I married my man in uniform and got the things I hoped for, but more than anything, I found an unshakeable love that has indeed become “Army Strong.”

Tag Game

This is a fun little tag game going around. Traci66 tagged me. 

Basically, she chose 8 questions to ask and I have to answer them. Then I have to come up with 8 questions and tag 8 people to answer them. After you post the post, make sure to let them know that you tagged them! Here it goes. 

1. Are you superstitious?

I would not say I am superstitious. I do get anxious and paranoid about things, but I am never over the top. I really am a laid back kind of person that lets God lead the way.

2. Do you believe in ghost? 
I do not currently believe in ghosts. I have gone ghost hunting before in hopes of finding something supernatural, but I have had no luck. And until I see, feel, or hear it myself, it will stay that way.

3. What is you fave color?
My favorite color is Yellow. Because it is bright and beautiful. It's cheery and positive. Which is how I like to view the world. 

4. Do you work or are you a stay at home mom?
I do not work. I am currently a full time and a half student working on my Bachelor's in Elementary Education. I will be a Stay at Home Mom when we have kids here, but I will still be in school. After we go back to the states, I will get a teaching job, hopefully! I can not wait to start my own career!

5. If you had a super power, what would it be?
I do not really want any super powers. The most I have ever even remotely considering is being able to shrink myself, so I can travel the world in my husband's pockets. So I can see what he does at work. So I can be with him all the time. But when I really sit back and think about this..... it could be very scary!

6. If you were a cartoon character, which one would you be?
I am a Tweety girl! I know, so old-school, right? I have always loved Tweety and always will. It's a lasting love that was formed between a cousin/friend of mine in Elementary and Junior High that passed away in the 7th grade due to Cancer. It's something that will stick with me forever because we were both such Tweety lovers!

7. Salty or Sweet?
Salty and Sour! Is that a choice? I love salty foods. I would choose salty foods over sweet foods any day of the week. However, I do love me some sour candies every once in a while. Like Sour Patch Kids, Sour Gummi Worms, etc. Oh... Now my mouth is watering! 

8. Why do you blog?
I began blogging just to document our life adventures for a personal pleasure. Sort of like a virtual scrapbook, but as I began blogging, I accumulated followers. As I got readers, I furthered my blogging into a little bit of everything. I still include our life adventures, our lifestyle, our dreams, our goals, our travels, our fitness, our family life, etc. I just now add in a bit of fun to mingle with friends and build lasting relationships. 

The 8 Questions I have chosen are:
1. What are your life goals?
2. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
3. Do you have any memory that will last a lifetime? If so, what is it?
4. If you were a shoe, what would you be? Why?
5. What is your favorite food?
6. What is your favorite room in your house?
7. What is your favorite letter of the alphabet?
8. How many children do you have? or want to have? 

And the 8 People I tag are:  
Stetsons, Spurs, and Stilettos  
That 22 Year Old Housewife
Southern Hospitality
Sergeant Major Mom
Le Chateau des fleurs by Frenchy
Goodnight Moon!
G.I. Joe's Wife
Freckles on the Nose of Life's Complexion

I tagged people that I just recently started following that I would love to get to know better, so I hope you all will participate and have fun with it! 

Tender Loving Care

I have been giving myself some extra tender loving care lately, which explains the not-so-often blog posts. Basically my life consists of spoiling myself absolutely rotten. But who's complaining? Not me!

I slid out of my last classes with A's. Whoop Whoop! I was ecstatic considering it was a painful last two weeks. Not to mention one of the classes was an Intermediate Algebra. My brain was not all there. Thankfully, it has decided to return in just enough time for a doubled semester in school.

So this week I started the new term. The one with double the classes. I really have no complaints because Mr. Man is away. Since he is away, I can make my own schedule, do my own thing, and NOT have to clean the house! That's always awesome. Especially when all I want to do is sleep, eat, and shop.

Of course, I would rather have Mr. Man here, but the best thing to do is accept that he is not here and spoil myself rotten. By that I mean, I shop a lot, I sleep a lot, I go to the movies with friends a lot, I cook what I want, and I take 3 or more baths in one day. It's a pretty amazing life if you ask me!

I told Mr. Man yesterday that I took 4 baths. He was like, "What?!" I told him I thought I was secretly a mermaid. His reaction was... Well I can't tell you because if I told you I would give away a surprise. But I love my baths. I am calling these next 3 weeks my pure warm water heaven because when Mr. Man is home, I hardly even get a bath. It's quick showers every day.

I really do love water. I think I was suppose to be a fish, but somehow came out human. I love to wash my hands. I love drinking water. I love to take long showers. I love to swim. I love to soak my feet in the ocean. I love to fish... and swim with fish. I love everything to do with water. I definitely love the sound of water. Which reminds me.... I want one of these for my bedroom for when Mr. Man is away. I think it would be soothing and help me sleep. Not sure what they are called, but here's a picture.

It's the motion pictures where the water moves and it makes the sound of water. They have waterfalls and oceans, and other things like nature and wildlife. I want a waterfall or ocean like this one. They are so soothing. And of course they are gorgeous.

My sister is almost 17 weeks pregnant and is STILL sick all the time. Poor thing. I feel so bad for her. She said it is getting a little better, but she wishes it would go away. And everyone says she does not even look pregnant. Probably because she can't keep anything down or eat normal. She's already tiny, too.  Say a prayer for her and the baby.

Ok, I think that is mostly what has been going on around here. There is a whole lot more, but there is only so much I can say right now because I do not want to offend anyone or hurt anyone's feelings through it all so patience for me, for you, and for everyone else. But I can promise it will be worth it all in the end.

Now, I am off to catch some Z's so I can have a successful shopping trip and meeting tomorrow with some friends.

I hope everyone is doing well, and please forgive me on being behind on my reading here in blogland! I hope everyone has a fantastic week, too!

Until next time...

Getting to Know You with MannLand5

I think I am back for good. I think, I hope. With Mr. Man gone, my life is  not so demanding so I can relax, chill, clean, and do school work when it pleases me. Which means, I can now blog when I want without feeling guilty for not... say putting up the THREE loads of folded laundry that is sitting on my bedroom floor. That has been there for 3 days! But I am glad to be back to bloggy land because I sure have missed it. I've missed everyone! Hopefully school will not be too time consuming for the next few weeks, and I can get back in the swing of things.

So to help me get back to my blogging routine, I have decided to participate in Keely's Getting to Know You. I've done these before, so it is not anything new to me, but if it is new to you be sure to check her out and participate if you would like!

The questions this week are:

1. What kind of athlete has the hottest body?

 I find bodybuilders and fitness models to have the nicest bodies. Mostly because they are the hardest ones to achieve and they take the longest time, which means they are obviously dedicated people. 

2. Are you a planner or a procrastinator?

Depends on what we are talking about. I am mostly a planner unless I am sick. If I am sick, definitely a procrastinator. On an everyday basis, I can not stand to procrastinate because it just makes me worry and stress. Why  have that when you can avoid it? My rule of thumb is "once you get it done, you are free!"

3. Diet or regular (soda)?

I do not drink any soda. Diet soda is just as bad as regular soda due to the aspartame in other chemicals in it. I am not a soda drinker at all. I use to drink regular coca-cola though when I was much younger. Sprite quenches the cravings, too. 

4. What's your one "must have" for Fall?

I do not really have anything for a "must have" at this point. Although I can not wait until Partylite comes out with their Fall scents. If they have already, someone please let me know!

5. What's your favorite fast food restaurant?

Wendy's, hands down. Their spicy chicken sandwich is so super yummy. I miss it so much! Plus, they have the best selection of salads. When I eat there, I feel like I am eating fresh foods versus crap like McDonald's, Taco Bell, and Burger King. Although I know it's all the same type of food, something about Wendy's makes me happy and comfortable!

6. What do you think is the sexiest profession for a guy?

I like my man in uniform carrying a bada$$ gun, so it looks like a soldier! Exactly what I have :) 

7. Did you wear braces?

I did wear braces when I was in high school for about 2 and half years. I was 14 when I got them on and 16 when they came off. They came off right after Mr. Man and I started dating. He misses my braces! I; however, do not! 

8. Would you rather have a guy that's super sexy or kind?

Well I have both, so I can chose both. Ok, just kidding. If I had to chose one over the other, I would take a guy that is kind and sweet. It has to be someone that cares about me and is loving. Personality is a must. I can not just date a guy based on looks if he has a horrible attitude and selfish. 

Dreaming in Gold:

Here is a quest post from Kristin at Windy Poplars. My very own first guest blogger here at Life as a Cajun Bombshell! I love her blog and her personality. We have a lot in common. She is one of my favorite non-military bloggers! You should check her out and show her some love. She is always so motivating and uplifting. I promise it will be worth it!

First of all, I'd like to thank my dear bloggy friend, Mrs. Ma'am for asking me to do a guest post for her "Life as a Cajun Bombshell". What an honor! While I write about lots of things over at Windy Poplars, you've caught me on a rather introspective day. I hope you'll pour yourself some iced tea, and join me in my reflections...

    How many times a day (week, month, year), do we get that feeling in our souls that we've accomplished something great? I don't mean great on the Richter Scale, measuring impaction levels on mankind as a whole, but great in the sense that you KNOW that what you just did, was something you were created to do. It resounds in your very deepest heart of hearts. It could be an inner joy and peace...a sense of purpose fulfilled...a delight with your soul at perfect rest...a longing satisfied. We're going to call that a "golden feeling" for the purposes of this post. I find colors can be a great way of expressing emotions - don't you think?


I love having that feeling of gold! It's a natural high. Even if it's only for a moment. It helps you wade through all kind of daily mundane, and like a drug, keeps you wanting more.~


So with that in mind, now switch over to thinking about the dreams you have for your life. Do they meld in any way with those aforementioned feelings of gold? Many of mine do, and that's why, after connecting those two thoughts, I had my epiphany:


A Key to Happiness:

1. Spend time thinking about the dreams and desires that were placed in your hearts secret place before you were born. - Also consciously noting that the realization of them brings about immense feelings of gold!

2. Stop sitting around and waiting for them to occur by chance.- DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!


Several blogs have been inspiring me lately to live my dreams. Who knows if we'll ever see tomorrow? But we DO have today! Many of my dreams have always seemed far off in the future.- "We don't have the money", "It's too much work", "I have no idea how to even go about getting started", "I'm too young and inexperienced", are all excuses I've used. No more my friend!


It's time to start being a dream liver! I'm stepping out into the unknown and am in search of gold! Here are some stops along my Golden Road Map, I hope it will inspire you to make one of your own!


*Golden Dream: Nurturing weary souls by providing care and pampering and bliss! Giving them an escape from their everyday life, and helping to restore their calm.-

*Map: Sprucing up our guest room and bath  to act as a "bed and breakfast" where all their needs are met - offered to all on a donations basis -only as people are led and able.


*Golden Dream: Marriage Counseling - helping to build strong, vibrant marriages.

*Map: See the map above - providing thought provoking and interactive material for couples to use while staying with us if they so desire to grow their relationship. - Also planning marriage days/events for couples only that involve growing in trust, vulnerability, communication, and fun companionship.


*Golden Dream: Community - fellowship, and providing "family" for those who have none (or none close by).

*Map: Looking into building and running a boarding house - a long time dream of mine! Praying for direction... Making lots of phone calls!


*Golden Dream: Travel - My heart experiences many golden thrills when I'm exploring a new place for the first time, or visiting an old gem that holds lots of memories. Also tied tightly to this, is the reconnection that happens with my dear husband when we're taken out of our daily routine, and set out on an adventure together. That's pure gold!

*Map: Starting to look for a supplemental job that will purely provide travel money - so that it can become a more regular part of our lives.



Thanks, Mrs. Ma'am for letting me share some of my dreams with your readers today!  Happy Weekending to All!

Sorry

I just want to apologize about  not blogging much. There is so much going on right now. I can tell you that once I come back full blown, it will all be worth it! I promise.

Right now, I am focusing on finishing my finals. Normally, it would not take me this long but with everything else going on around me it's hard to stay focused and find the time to commit a lot of time at once to it. That is literally consuming majority of my time. It will not be any easier either since I am doubling up this next term.

I am still planning our Ireland trip. So far I have booked our hotel rooms and flights. I am building an itinerary now. It has kind of been put on the back burner for now, but November will be here before we know it.

Mr. Man leaves tomorrow for his training. He will be gone for about 3 and a half weeks. I believe I already mentioned this numerous times, so nothing new with that.

Mr. Man is off today, so we are going to finish up our errands together, then I will be finishing up my finals. I hope they are finished by today.

Yesterday, I went shopping. I bought some shirts, tanks, a new purse, and a makeup bag. I love shopping! You already knew that, though!

Really that is about it. Once again I am sorry for not being around often. Like I said before, there are reasons behind it and when I come back full blown again, it will be so exciting and nonstop.

For now, say a prayer that I finish my finals soon so I can be done with them!

Buffalo Chicken Wings:

This is a Cajun style of making buffalo chicken wings. I have not made this recipe in a long time due to our diets, but people are always asking me how to make Buffalo Wings cajun style. I thought I would share this recipe with you all.

Ingredients:
24 wings
Salt and Pepper to taste
4 cups of vegetable oil
4 tablespoons of butter
2-5 tablespoons of hot sauce (I use Tabasco and Louisiana Red Hot Sauce because I feel they are the hottest out of the most I have tried. Red Hot does not compare at all!)
1 tablespoon of white vinegar
Celery sticks (optional)

Directions:
Sprinkle the wings with salt and pepper to taste. Heat the oil in a deep fryer or large casserole. When it is hot, add half of the wings and cook about 10 minutes, stirring occassionally. When the chicken wings are gold brown and crisp, remove them and drain well. Add the remaining wings and cook about 10 minutes, or until golden brown and crisp. Drain well. Melt the butter in a saucepan and add 2-5 tablespoons (or to taste) of the hot sauce. Add the vinegar. Put the chicken wings on a warm serving platter and pour the butter mixture over them. Serve with Blue Cheese Dressing and celery sticks.

This makes about 4 to 6 servings.

So Much Going On

I have not really been blogging much. Things have been so busy around here. This week is finals, so a lot of my time is taken up by that. Mr. Man was put on the exercise last minute, so he is working nights this week again. He leaves on Saturday for his TDY. Poor guy is going to be exhausted.

Instead of working 6pm to 6am, he is working 8pm to 8am. I have no complaints about that, but this morning I woke up at 11:30am (on his schedule) to no husband. I freaked out a little. I just thought he may have feel asleep downstairs. I went downstairs, and there was still no Mr. Man. I went back upstairs and just thought I overlooked him in the bed. Of course, I was wrong. I called his work and got the busy signal about 5 times before it finally rang. The new guy answered. I asked if Mr. Man was there and he said, "Ugh, I think he's on the flight line." Mr. Man does not work on the flight line. I just said, "Ok, but he is at work, right?" The new guy replied, "Yea, yea, he's hear." About 2 seconds after I hung up the phone, Mr. Man walked through the door. I told him the story, and his reaction -- "Are you serious? Wow, the new guy got me confused with (another name similar to Mr. Man's)." Interesting, really interesting.

On Friday, he will get off at midnight. On Saturday, he has to meet the shuttle to the airport at 3:45am. When is he suppose to sleep? Seriously, I feel sorry for his schedule. But he has no complaints. He is still bubbly and happy like he is getting all the sleep in the world. If I do not get 9-10 hours of sleep a night, I can not function. Kudos to Mr. Man for that.

This week I have been sick. It started with my ears a couple of weeks ago. I had a slight throbbing pain. It itched. It went to the other ear, too. When wind or air entered it, it hurt. I finally made a doctor's appointment because it happens every couple of months since I have moved here. When I was younger I had to go to the Ears, Nose, Throat doctor once a year to get my ears cleaned because I produce more ear wax than an average person. They would give me these ear drops that helped with it. I went and saw the physician, and he basically told me that my ears were clogged. He thought it would be a good idea to clean them himself. Wrong! They were so sensitive, and I jumped at everything because they were so sore. Finally, he referred me to the ENT. That got me no where, too. I went in and the girl that was working the desk is the one that took me back and the one that cleaned my ears. I did not think anything of it because they were really slow, but then she proceeds to tell me that the ear wax is really close to my eye drum and she is nervous. So I just sat there and let her do her thing. She cleaned some out, but then told me that she did not feel like getting any closer because she was not comfortable with it. Really?! I was not too happy with that at all. She told me to try and wash it out with peroxide and warm water or an over-the-counter cleaning kit-- that I actually told her about from the physician. Seriously, do you think I would go to the doctor if I had not tried to do something about my ears myself? Obviously, I have tried all of this plus more and nothing is working. I just want to see a dang professional, an actual doctor.

I will do the ear wax candling and see if they will help move it away from the ear drum before I go back to the ENT. I think that is my only option at this point, but when I go back, I will ask to see an actual doctor because this has gone on for way too long.

I am glad that it has not moved to my throat or nose. Now, that would be horrible. 

A few days after the ear situation, I woke up to a crusted shut eyeball. It was bloodshot and so red. I thought maybe it was pink eye, but I was wrong. I think it is from my contacts. I have been wearing my glasses since. This has been about a week, and it is still red around my pupil. I guess I will need to make an eye doctor's appointment, too. Am I just falling apart or what?

I feel like I am. When it rains, it pours for sure. I guess it could be worse, so I should be counting my blessings. I just wish the doctors here would actually take care of business instead of beating around the bush. It drives me nuts sometimes.

After this week, after finals, I have another term that I am doubling up on. Mr. Man will be away for the first 3 and a half weeks of it, which is good. It will give me time to get me a schedule going. I just hope he is back for our baby boy's birthday. Mr. Man has only been here for 1, and that one was last year. Hopefully, he can be here for another one.

To add to all this busyness, people are always asking me to do random things for them. I do not mind at all. I am not complaining at all! It just seems when I am busy, I get bombarded with more things. It all happens at once. I am glad people feel like they can rely on me, really I am. But it definitely adds to me going nonstop.

Me and the boy both got haircuts this week. He is finally all nice and shaved. Makes me sad a little. I prefer him furry, but he is happier shaved. I may take him out to the beach again while Mr. Man is away if it works out. If school does not consume too much of my time. I am sure he would enjoy rolling around in the sand without so much hair! I think I have decided that I am going to let mine grow out again. I really miss it being long, but I think I may regret letting it grow again. It's so easy to take care of short. It's so quick and easy to fix. I guess we will see. If I decide to continue cutting it, I am going to invest in me some extensions. I miss my long her from time to time, and vice versa. I think extensions will be a quick fix depending on my mood.

We heard word on the next deployment. Let's just say my calculations are pretty close, not exact. But anything can change between now and then. I like the idea of knowing there will be one rather than there is a possibly. At this base, it is always out there. But it's nice to know it's being discussed and planned for.

Hopefully, I will have some good news for you soon. Nothing fantastic, nothing dramatic, but something interesting. Debating on sharing or not.

10 Things that Inspire Me: #1

This is part of the 101 Things to do in 1001 Days project. I listed that I would like to find 10 things that inspire me to be who I want to be or have inspired me to be who I am today.

I am going to list them one by one as I come across them. I think this is going to be harder than I originally thought, but it will be interesting for me.

The first thing that inspires me to be who I am is: Obesity in America and America's reputation on food.

Since I have lived in England for a couple of years, I have realized how much American convenience foods and ways of life have such a bad reputation. Obesity in America is a big subject around the world. While I lived in the U.S. I never really saw or understood this fact. I did see it in people, but I thought it was a common fact world wide. Although there are many obese people here in England, America still holds the worst reputation and statistics for obesity. A lot of this problem is blamed on the conveniences that Americans love.

I would have to say that I see why people would view America like this. We are famous for our fast food chains and our grocery shopping habits that allow us to eat something straight from a box. Now for some, this is not that big of a deal. And personally, I find it to be judgmental. Judgmental because I see England slowly leaning towards this behavior, but yet they continue to blame the U.S. for this. It is definitely not the fault of the American people that others are deciding that fast food is the way of life. They make that decision on their own.

However, I hate to hear this. I hear it all the time, especially on TV. Recently, the UK was discussing opening some type of restaurant. One that was opened in America that is slowly making it's way around the world. Many English people objected to it because they said, "This is American food. American food is bad for our society and economy." Seriously? This was a restaurant. People need to take responsibility for their own actions and stop blaming others. If I chose to eat McDonald's one day, that is my choice. I do not go and blame the English people for having a McDonald's in this country.

Why does this inspire me?

It inspires me to want to change the reputation that America currently holds. It makes me want to change the way our future generations are raised. It makes me want to encourage all obese people to change their way of life. I know this is impossible, but maybe it could happen. Who knows.... I just know that I can contribute to that change by changing myself. I do not eat fast food, but I once did. And this is exactly what encouraged me to make the change. People need to understand that eating healthy can be just as inexpensive and convenient as eating out all the time or driving through a drive thru. So for me, this is contribution and this is why it inspires me.

Maybe one day America will loose the reputation of being lazy and relying on conveniences. And really it can start anywhere. Hopefully, other Americans can set a good example for the future generations, show them a better way of life, and America can soon grow to be a healthier society.

I have to say that I would not have fully opened my eyes to how many conveniences Americans truly have. It's true. There are fast food chains located on every corner, every block. All of these fast food chains have drive thrus. That is probably the biggest problem. Here in England, it is not like that at all. You will every once in a while come across a Subway, McDonald's, Pizza Hut, Dominoes, Subway, or Burger King. But NONE of these have drive thrus. I believe since being here in the UK I have seen one McDonald's that had a drive thru.

So on this thought, as American what is your view? Have you traveled to other countries and witnessed this, too? Do you feel that America can make the change, lose the bad reputation?

MilSpouse Friday Fill-In:

Wife of a Sailor 

1. What is something you wished you’d learned to do earlier in life?
Really, I have learned a lot very early. One of the most recent life lessons I have learned is that not everyone is going to like you for who you are. Some will not give you the light of day because they think they know everything and are better than everyone. So I wish that I would have learned that sooner, so I would not have taken it so hard once it hit. I hardly ever have someone not like me, and since I have been in the UK, I have had my fair share of drama from a couple of people that can not seem to let things go. Other than that, life is about living and learning so I am constantly learning new things, and I feel I am learning them all in good time.


2. What is your biggest pet peeve with the military?
The biggest is hurry up and wait. They want you to do everything you can do as fast as you can, in the shortest amount of time possible, but then when you are done and ready, they are just beginning their share. Of course the famous, no set dates or times. But I have to say I respect that one way much more than the hurry up and wait.

3. What tourist attraction near you have you never seen?
I live in the UK. I have not been to Wales or Cornwall. Those are two places I really want to go when I get the chance.

4. What are you avoiding doing right now?
A paper for my education class. It's the easiest paper, and I am over halfway done with it, but I will have all day tomorrow to myself since Mr. Man is going paintballing with some guys. I think I will finish it then!

5. Wine, beer or liquor?
I am now a wine drinker. I still love my occasional Sex on the Beach, Bahama Mama, or Margarita, but I have started drinking wine way more often. I think because when I drink, it's just a glass or so. Wine is the appropriate drink for something like that.

Tomorrow is the big day! and Time Flies.

I am freaking exhausted. It is almost 1am, and I am up and about cleaning my house. Perfect, right?!

Not!

I am so ecstatic that our new sofas come tomorrow. No pictures will do any justice to what they truly look like. Mainly because our house is so small, and these are definitely an upgrade. I am seriously so proud of ourselves for doing this. It is something we knew we wanted to do while we were in England, but I never really thought it would actually happen. But it is!

Life has been so busy. I was talking to one of my cousins on the phone today, and I asked about my Aunt. I said, "Is your Mom back teaching or did she take more time off?" She said, "Oh, she's back teaching. She's been back." I said, "I thought she took some time off for her neck." She said, "Yea, she did, but that was two years ago." Where has time gone? I always feel like time is flying. The older I get the faster it goes. The family says it's the same for them with us. They will ask us about trips or something we did, and I always reply with, "That was like forever ago." It is like an ongoing cycle.

It's hard to believe we are were we are in our lives, doing the things we are doing. It's hard to believe we are 22 and 23 years old. It's hard to believe our baby boy is 4 years old. What next? I am not sure I want the answer to that question. It is quite amazing. The world in itself is amazing. The way it turns, the way things happen, the time it happens within, all of it. Sometimes it is frustrating and upsetting. Like, when I realized earlier that the last time I saw my baby, baby cousin was when she was 3 months old. Now, she's 2. The one and only time I have met her actually. Breaks my heart because those are my kiddos.

This little girl walks around singing country songs. Her brother, the one that is only a year older than her, was not even talking at this age. Not solid anyway. He was shy. Not this one. She is definitely the Miss Priss. Definitely asks just like me as a child. Well just like her Mom, my Mom, and her older sister. I guess we all get it honest. 

Grant, Mr. Man's Godchild on my side, is so grown up now. He use to not talk at all. He would just grunt. I did the same thing when I was little. Grunt and point. The famous "Goodrich" trait. He is such an amazing and strong boy. He has outgrown his older siblings. He loves to play fight and wrestle, and he does not realize how tough he is being. He's a crazy boy for sure. He already does flips off the diving board all by himself. He talks like a maniac, so fast. I guess that's another "Goodrich" trait.

Then there is Eden. Now, this is Miss Priss at her best. This girl is smarter than a 5th grader, no lie. She is going to the 2nd grade. She uses words that I do not even know the meaning of. One day I was on the phone with her, and she was telling me a story. She decided to use a big word. Yea, I had to totally ask my Mom what it meant once we got off the phone. Is that not pathetic or what?

Garrett. The oldest. Mr. Macho Man with some emotions. He is definitely the nerdy scientist of the family. So so smart. He told me all about DNA over the phone. He told me about his inventions. One of them was a machine that could tell when his sister was lying. Funny, huh? He is reading at the 7th grade level. He is going to the 3rd. Him and his sister are 13 months apart. He is currently reading the Goosebumps series. I totally read Goosebumps as a child, but I was also in the 6th or 7th grade at the time. He is our family nerd, and very much a smarty pants just like the rest of them.

Now to add to all this children love, we have my cousin that just recently had a baby. His name is Blake. She is my age. He is adorable. Looks just like her and her brother, for sure. He is already 5 months. Crazy!! I have not even met this child, other than by some very graphic labor photos and the Facebook updates.

And now my sister. Gosh, I really am getting old, aren't I? By the way, my sister is an old married woman. I am so happy for her. I have so many surprises in the works for her. The family is throwing her a party this weekend to celebrate. Both of our anniversaries are in July, too. How cool is that? She is also pregnant, 15 weeks today. Time is flying by so super quick. Soon we will know if I will be having a little niece or nephew. Crossing my fingers for a perfect princess!

Oh, and I got my Macy's in yesterday. I tried everything on, and it fits fantasticly! I can not wait to wear it out and about. Maybe a church day? Who knows...

My Mom is ever so fabulous. This woman knows me and Mr. Man way too well. She sent us some "toys." Mr. Man got two t-shirts (which are from events that take place in our hometown), a remote control helicopter, a remote control UFO hovering thing, and batteries. Yes!! She even sent batteries. Awesome, huh? For me, she got me two t-shirts (the same, different colors), a super cute apron (which this is my very first apron), a extremely cute water bottle, and a candle holder that looks like blocks that holds 4 tea-lights (it says love). The water bottle is the best. It is zebra print, aluminum, with my initial on it, and some accents in purple. It is one of the thermos' that keep cold things cold and hot things hot. I took it to the gym to give it a try today. I put regular water fountain water in it. It immediately felt like there was ice in the bottle. I love super cold water while I am working out. I will have to invest in more of these I think. I seriously have an amazing Mom. I called and told her I got 3 packages in from her. You know what she says, "Oh wait, there should be 4." My reaction: "WHAT?!! SWEET! Thanks so much!" Surprises always rock my world. Surprises from my Mom are one of the best, but she definitely isn't the only one that sends great stuff. There are a ton of people out there that are constantly thinking about us. I love it!

PS- Mr. Man was up with our baby boy playing with the helicopter and UFO thingy until 3am one night. Buttons barking, Mr. Man flying. It's hilarious. I'll have to show you guys one day!

For now, it's out to get some sleep for my (yet another) busy day!

Life Lessons Learned

"You have to love yourself before you can love anyone else."

"You have to have the strength to do for yourself before you can do for someone else."

"Practice what you preach.".. or don't preach at all.

I truly and honestly believe that you have to love yourself before you can even begin to love someone else. You have to be happy and confident with who you are and what you want in life before you drag someone else into the mix. There are some cases where maniacs turn normal when they meet someone or find new friends. That's one thing. But to try and go out and fin love, friendships, and other relationships without caring about yourself first will almost always lead you to trouble. Sometimes I wish I could rattle some of my family and friend's minds, so they would understand this. So they will take the step to improving themselves first. I always have and always will want the best for the people that mean so much to me. Sometimes I find myself wanting to make sacrifices or breaking my arm just to help or support someone. Then it sucks to know that I had already those people that what has happened would have happened at some point before it even was close to happening. I am not perfect, nor am I always right. But I am a natural protector. I always hope for the best no matter who it involves, but it always crushes me when something happens and I know it could have been prevented. It's like people are in denial with themselves and the world.

You have to have the strength and courage to do for yourself before you can lend a hand to someone in need. Yes, it is nice to help others out even when you are not in a great position yourself to be doing it. That's another factor, another point. How can someone rely on you if you can not rely on yourself? I know it sounds like a mouthful, but think about it. For mothers, a child relies on them from many different angles. For protection to providing to supporting. If you, as a mother, choose not to protect yourself from something dangerous, like murders, how can your child feel safe and protected around you? Now, I used an extreme case to avoid offending anyone or taking my words the wrong way, but think about things like this. Not even as just a mother. It is something you have to carry as a person, a wife, a friend, an education, anything and everything. And always set a good example. Be someone that others can look up to. Be proud of who you are.

It is important to set a good example, share your thoughts and experiences, and be proud of who you are. Life is about living and learning. It really is. I just wish some poeple had the courtesy to practice what they preach. For example, there is this family that we know that has children. They are very open about being nonChristian to me. I personally do not have a problem with this, but what I do have a problem with is that they take their children to a Christian play group for the kids. The kids do crafts and things that are related to the Christian belief and the Bible. The mother of these children just goes along with the flow because it is basically free child care. At least that is how I feel. It's like she is abusing our good deeds. This goes back to being proud of who you are. You are not a proud and happy person if you ride the fence on things in life. Not to pass judgement on anyone - just speaking my mind. Another funny one is when people try to talk health and fitness with me. It's one thing to make it a casual conversation, but it is another to call yourself a "know-it-all" and state that and the reason why you are such a "know-it-all". I have had numerous people give me pointers, professionals and not so professional people. I always respectfully take their suggestions. I truthfully do. I just wish they could either take their own advice or realize how wrong they are by looking in the mirror. I can not stand know-it-alls. The ones that think they know everything because "they have read material on it", "studied about it for a couple of weeks", or are currently trying to lose weight. None of those classify anyone as a know-it-all on any issue. Which all goes back to taking care of yourself before lending a hand to someone else in need. This does not only go towards the two examples I gave. It's about all perspectives of life.

This is all about being happy with yourself and who you have become. It's about getting yourself out of denial so you can better yourself. It's about not lying to yourself so you can make a difference in the world.

Now, to clear the air. This is not to a specific person, family, or category out in the world. It is aimed towards everyone, just people in general - including myself. I always say if the shoe fits then maybe you should take a step back and re-examine yourself. This is just shared lessons that I have learned from my life, whether it's been through friends, family, or myself. Just life's little adventures that have come my way.