the newest thoughts are bolded.
21 November: I'm grateful for my pillow. It's old, nasty, and crazy but I honestly have a hard time sleeping without it! And I'm grateful for my husband who allows it in our house.
20 November: I am thankful for the top notch, affordable, available healthcare we have as Americans.
19 November: I am thankful for kind strangers, like the one who kept me from falling to my death on the stairs at the post office.
18 November: I am grateful for electricity...I can look around and realize how different my life would be without it!
17 November: I am thankful today that I am considered a grown up and nobody can make me take a picture with Santa at the mall. The one there today was terrifying, and just as I started to feel like a freak for being scared of a fake Santa, a little boy started crying and yelling, "I will punch you, Santa, if you get too close to me and my baby brother!!!!"
16 November: I am thankful that I live a block from the best cheap Asian food and sushi where $10 buys me three dinners on nights I just don't feel like cooking.
15 November: I am grateful for down comforters. I would never have thought to kill a bird, pluck it, and put the feathers in a blanket...I would just have been too focused on eating it. Anyways, I love my down comforter and how warm it keeps me when my other bed warmer is away at sea. A queen sized bed is hard to keep warm alone when none of my pups will snuggle me.
14 November: I am grateful for the wonders of online shopping and the tiny spark of giddiness that comes from hearing the UPS truck pull up in front of your house!
13 November: I am grateful for warm clothes on these cold days. I hope I never take them for granted.
12 November: I am extremely grateful for my extended family and in-laws. Thank you for loving me and being a great support system.
11 November: I am grateful for all of the 'nerds' out there who didn't let bullies get them down and instead persevered so that I can video chat with my family, hundreds of miles away.
10 November: I'm grateful for my fabulous friends. I'm grateful for the ones who still hug me and love me even when we don't see each other but once a year. And I'm grateful for the ones who I can call on at a moment's notice. And I'm grateful for the ones who I don't know very well but will continue to get to know!
9 November: I'm grateful for this week of odd non-winterlike weather we have been having in the PNW. I don't know that I could cope with the seasonal depression that comes from scooping poop in the pouring rain yet.
8 November: Grateful, grateful, grateful for my three pups. They drive me absolutely insane sometimes (was it really necessary to shred two whole boxes of kleenix?!) but it's the most stress-relieving, loneliness-quelling thing to be able to come home to them and snuggle them.
7 November: Today I am grateful to have a warm bed in a warm house to crawl into when I need to be sad for a little bit. (And then I fall asleep and wake up feeling better!! It's a magic bed!!)
6 November: I am grateful for toilet paper. Enough said.
5 November: I am grateful for the freedom that being an American affords me. I loved going to the store and buying a turkey and all of the fixings to make an early Thanksgiving for my husband. =]
4 November: I am grateful for the military and all of the opportunities it has afforded us as a family. We have college degrees, job stability, healthcare, and a home. The sacrifices the military demands of us are small in comparison to what we get from it.
3 November: I am grateful for whoever decided to harvest, burn, crush, and steam small black beans and call the product coffee. Furthermore, I am grateful for my husband who makes a wicked strong pot and always leaves me a cup for when I wake up.
2 November: I am grateful for the clean water that comes out of the faucet. I take it for granted all too often. I can't imagine what life would be like if I had to walk 8 miles a day for clean water like so many women in developing countries do.
1 November: I am grateful for the man I married. He is my best friend and biggest fan. He makes me laugh, give great hugs, and never complains about taking out the trash.
17 November 2011
New Project
Because I just don't have enough going on in my life...
I have decided to try and wear every single thing I own and photograph each outfit.
My goal is to use each top, bottom, shoe, and jacket in two separate and very different outfits.
Anything I can not use I will get rid of! (With exceptions, of course....)
I've seen other people undertake a similar project with a timeline, but it's not going to be nice enough for me to wear my shorts anytime soon so I'm going to be a bit more flexible.
I love new outfit ideas, but they often take me a long time to conjure and then even longer to feel confident enough in them to actually wear them out in public. I'm hoping this little side project forces me to be bold, even if the outfit potentially is a fail. I'm also hoping to put together a sort of 'catalog' of outfits so that getting dressed on stressful, rushed days is easier.
I'd love criticism or suggestions, but be gentle. =D
I have decided to try and wear every single thing I own and photograph each outfit.
My goal is to use each top, bottom, shoe, and jacket in two separate and very different outfits.
Anything I can not use I will get rid of! (With exceptions, of course....)
I've seen other people undertake a similar project with a timeline, but it's not going to be nice enough for me to wear my shorts anytime soon so I'm going to be a bit more flexible.
I love new outfit ideas, but they often take me a long time to conjure and then even longer to feel confident enough in them to actually wear them out in public. I'm hoping this little side project forces me to be bold, even if the outfit potentially is a fail. I'm also hoping to put together a sort of 'catalog' of outfits so that getting dressed on stressful, rushed days is easier.
I'd love criticism or suggestions, but be gentle. =D
16 November 2011
Things Being Alone Teaches You...the NOT serious version
1. ALWAYS keep extra toilet paper near the toilet. The dogs do not understand how to be helpful when you chuck the empty roll across the room angrily.
2. Take down any and all garments of clothing that hang more than 2 feet off of the ground, unless they are in your closet. This will save you from screaming bloody murder when you think the coat rack is an intruder.
3. Don't bake a whole turkey. It doesn't matter if you found the smallest one at the store....it's still too big for you to eat. Second related lesson: moldy turkey is nasty. Third related lesson: turkey molds ridiculously quickly.
4. When people stop by unexpectedly, you cannot blame your messy house on anyone. Psshh.
2. Take down any and all garments of clothing that hang more than 2 feet off of the ground, unless they are in your closet. This will save you from screaming bloody murder when you think the coat rack is an intruder.
3. Don't bake a whole turkey. It doesn't matter if you found the smallest one at the store....it's still too big for you to eat. Second related lesson: moldy turkey is nasty. Third related lesson: turkey molds ridiculously quickly.
4. When people stop by unexpectedly, you cannot blame your messy house on anyone. Psshh.
12 November 2011
Book: "Kira-kira" by Cynthia Kadohata
This is an amazing book meant for kids 10-14. Narrated by Katie Takeshima, the daughter of Japanese parents who immigrate to the Deep South of Georgia, this book is for much more than young adults. Katie's world revolves around her older sister Lynn who falls seriously ill. It falls to Katie to be strong and hold her family together through family crises and poverty.
I read "Kira-kira" in less than a day; it's not only a quick read, but one I couldn't put down. Kadohata received a Newberry for this work...well deserved!
I read "Kira-kira" in less than a day; it's not only a quick read, but one I couldn't put down. Kadohata received a Newberry for this work...well deserved!
05 November 2011
Month of Gratitude
17 November I am thankful today that I am considered a grown up and nobody can make me take a picture with Santa at the mall. The one there today was terrifying, and just as I started to feel like a freak for being scared of a fake Santa, a little boy started crying and yelling, "I will punch you, Santa, if you get too close to me and my baby brother!!!!"
16 November: I am thankful that I live a block from the best cheap Asian food and sushi where $10 buys me three dinners on nights I just don't feel like cooking.
15 November: I am grateful for down comforters. I would never have thought to kill a bird, pluck it, and put the feathers in a blanket...I would just have been too focused on eating it. Anyways, I love my down comforter and how warm it keeps me when my other bed warmer is away at sea. A queen sized bed is hard to keep warm alone when none of my pups will snuggle me.
14 November: I am grateful for the wonders of online shopping and the tiny spark of giddiness that comes from hearing the UPS truck pull up in front of your house!
13 November: I am grateful for warm clothes on these cold days. I hope I never take them for granted.
12 November: I am extremely grateful for my extended family and in-laws. Thank you for loving me and being a great support system.
11 November: I am grateful for all of the 'nerds' out there who didn't let bullies get them down and instead persevered so that I can video chat with my family, hundreds of miles away.
10 November: I'm grateful for my fabulous friends. I'm grateful for the ones who still hug me and love me even when we don't see each other but once a year. And I'm grateful for the ones who I can call on at a moment's notice. And I'm grateful for the ones who I don't know very well but will continue to get to know!
9 November: I'm grateful for this week of odd non-winterlike weather we have been having in the PNW. I don't know that I could cope with the seasonal depression that comes from scooping poop in the pouring rain yet.
8 November: Grateful, grateful, grateful for my three pups. They drive me absolutely insane sometimes (was it really necessary to shred two whole boxes of kleenix?!) but it's the most stress-relieving, loneliness-quelling thing to be able to come home to them and snuggle them.
7 November: Today I am grateful to have a warm bed in a warm house to crawl into when I need to be sad for a little bit. (And then I fall asleep and wake up feeling better!! It's a magic bed!!)
6 November: I am grateful for toilet paper. Enough said.
5 November: I am grateful for the freedom that being an American affords me. I loved going to the store and buying a turkey and all of the fixings to make an early Thanksgiving for my husband. =]
4 November: I am grateful for the military and all of the opportunities it has afforded us as a family. We have college degrees, job stability, healthcare, and a home. The sacrifices the military demands of us are small in comparison to what we get from it.
3 November: I am grateful for whoever decided to harvest, burn, crush, and steam small black beans and call the product coffee. Furthermore, I am grateful for my husband who makes a wicked strong pot and always leaves me a cup for when I wake up.
2 November: I am grateful for the clean water that comes out of the faucet. I take it for granted all too often. I can't imagine what life would be like if I had to walk 8 miles a day for clean water like so many women in developing countries do.
1 November: I am grateful for the man I married. He is my best friend and biggest fan. He makes me laugh, give great hugs, and never complains about taking out the trash.
16 November: I am thankful that I live a block from the best cheap Asian food and sushi where $10 buys me three dinners on nights I just don't feel like cooking.
15 November: I am grateful for down comforters. I would never have thought to kill a bird, pluck it, and put the feathers in a blanket...I would just have been too focused on eating it. Anyways, I love my down comforter and how warm it keeps me when my other bed warmer is away at sea. A queen sized bed is hard to keep warm alone when none of my pups will snuggle me.
14 November: I am grateful for the wonders of online shopping and the tiny spark of giddiness that comes from hearing the UPS truck pull up in front of your house!
13 November: I am grateful for warm clothes on these cold days. I hope I never take them for granted.
12 November: I am extremely grateful for my extended family and in-laws. Thank you for loving me and being a great support system.
11 November: I am grateful for all of the 'nerds' out there who didn't let bullies get them down and instead persevered so that I can video chat with my family, hundreds of miles away.
10 November: I'm grateful for my fabulous friends. I'm grateful for the ones who still hug me and love me even when we don't see each other but once a year. And I'm grateful for the ones who I can call on at a moment's notice. And I'm grateful for the ones who I don't know very well but will continue to get to know!
9 November: I'm grateful for this week of odd non-winterlike weather we have been having in the PNW. I don't know that I could cope with the seasonal depression that comes from scooping poop in the pouring rain yet.
8 November: Grateful, grateful, grateful for my three pups. They drive me absolutely insane sometimes (was it really necessary to shred two whole boxes of kleenix?!) but it's the most stress-relieving, loneliness-quelling thing to be able to come home to them and snuggle them.
7 November: Today I am grateful to have a warm bed in a warm house to crawl into when I need to be sad for a little bit. (And then I fall asleep and wake up feeling better!! It's a magic bed!!)
6 November: I am grateful for toilet paper. Enough said.
5 November: I am grateful for the freedom that being an American affords me. I loved going to the store and buying a turkey and all of the fixings to make an early Thanksgiving for my husband. =]
4 November: I am grateful for the military and all of the opportunities it has afforded us as a family. We have college degrees, job stability, healthcare, and a home. The sacrifices the military demands of us are small in comparison to what we get from it.
3 November: I am grateful for whoever decided to harvest, burn, crush, and steam small black beans and call the product coffee. Furthermore, I am grateful for my husband who makes a wicked strong pot and always leaves me a cup for when I wake up.
2 November: I am grateful for the clean water that comes out of the faucet. I take it for granted all too often. I can't imagine what life would be like if I had to walk 8 miles a day for clean water like so many women in developing countries do.
1 November: I am grateful for the man I married. He is my best friend and biggest fan. He makes me laugh, give great hugs, and never complains about taking out the trash.
04 November 2011
The Blues
Well good morning/afternoon, world.
Today is the very first day that our looming deployment has really affected me. It started last night, like a little itch. Today it's a full on rash. I need to shake it off, to get over it, and to not scratch it and make it worse.
As if to rub the looming deployment in my face, I had the pleasure of getting up at 5:30am to take Don's seabag to the drop off point. I guess it's really real. The upside was that before I even had my car door open, three guys were rushing over and took care of the massive, leaden bag. If I had had to struggle with it, I honestly would've cried.
So, now it's time to move on to things that make me happy: walking the dogs, drinking scalding coffee, and craft time!
I know I'm loved. I'm well cared for. I have the best of friends and the most wonderful family. I have most of my health, most of my sanity, and four pumpkin spice candles crying out to be lit.
I can turn this icky day into a good one. I know I can! =]
Today is the very first day that our looming deployment has really affected me. It started last night, like a little itch. Today it's a full on rash. I need to shake it off, to get over it, and to not scratch it and make it worse.
As if to rub the looming deployment in my face, I had the pleasure of getting up at 5:30am to take Don's seabag to the drop off point. I guess it's really real. The upside was that before I even had my car door open, three guys were rushing over and took care of the massive, leaden bag. If I had had to struggle with it, I honestly would've cried.
So, now it's time to move on to things that make me happy: walking the dogs, drinking scalding coffee, and craft time!
I know I'm loved. I'm well cared for. I have the best of friends and the most wonderful family. I have most of my health, most of my sanity, and four pumpkin spice candles crying out to be lit.
I can turn this icky day into a good one. I know I can! =]
26 October 2011
latest wife quote
Anyone who doesn't want a baby made of solid gold is crazy... You can melt it down and sell it!!
24 October 2011
I guess it's been awhile
I just realized that the last time I blogged was almost two weeks ago! Honestly, I was nervous this morning that I would log on and find out my last blog was two months ago. I'm so bad at this.
I think not much is new and that's part of the reason for not blogging.
Lately, I've been wrestling with how much of 'me' I want to put out on this blog. On one hand, I'm naturally a very open book. On the other hand, I'm married to someone who is not only very private, but who is intensely protective of me.
The head zoo keeper has no real qualms with my blog (so far) but he isn't super enthusiastic about me putting it all out there.
But.
(There's always a "but", isn't there?)
But when things in my life are really big and really stressful, talking about them really helps me cope. I have a very difficult time with anxiety and stress. I always, always try to internalize it. And I always, always fail eventually. The failure is always in the form of an explosion. I hurt people and I make things more painful for myself.
I think that blogging might be a happy middle. I can still be relatively 'internal' because I'm not talking anyone's ears off, yet at the same time I'm getting it out there on a platform that allows for comments and discussion. It's like talking to someone without making eye contact, I suppose. It feels a little strange, a little off, but it's easier in many ways to get the heavy stuff out of your system.
[In case you didn't notice, I just did exactly what I was discussing. That's confusing. But choosing how much to blog about is one of my stressors and just putting it out there, blogging about the actual blogging problem has helped me greatly!]
So, here goes! My biggest long-term stresses are from least to most stress:
1. Being homesick. I so, so miss Montana. I less and less miss the physical place and more and more miss the lifestyle and the people. I didn't feel homesick at all for the first 2-3 years after I left and I'm paying it all back now.
2. Our future. Specifically how long we will be in the Navy, where we move next, what Don does after the Navy, what I do, when I get to do my real job, etc.
3. The upcoming deployment. I feel like it's coming very soon, it's going to be SO, SO long, and there are a billion things I need to do before it all happens. Eek!
4. And last but not least starting a family. I plan to blog further about this part, hopefully today.
But don't worry! I'm really OK. =] Actually, today is my first day in a long time with no commitments, work, appointments, etc. I'm loving my pajama day full of Project Runway reruns and relaxation.
I think not much is new and that's part of the reason for not blogging.
Lately, I've been wrestling with how much of 'me' I want to put out on this blog. On one hand, I'm naturally a very open book. On the other hand, I'm married to someone who is not only very private, but who is intensely protective of me.
The head zoo keeper has no real qualms with my blog (so far) but he isn't super enthusiastic about me putting it all out there.
But.
(There's always a "but", isn't there?)
But when things in my life are really big and really stressful, talking about them really helps me cope. I have a very difficult time with anxiety and stress. I always, always try to internalize it. And I always, always fail eventually. The failure is always in the form of an explosion. I hurt people and I make things more painful for myself.
I think that blogging might be a happy middle. I can still be relatively 'internal' because I'm not talking anyone's ears off, yet at the same time I'm getting it out there on a platform that allows for comments and discussion. It's like talking to someone without making eye contact, I suppose. It feels a little strange, a little off, but it's easier in many ways to get the heavy stuff out of your system.
[In case you didn't notice, I just did exactly what I was discussing. That's confusing. But choosing how much to blog about is one of my stressors and just putting it out there, blogging about the actual blogging problem has helped me greatly!]
So, here goes! My biggest long-term stresses are from least to most stress:
1. Being homesick. I so, so miss Montana. I less and less miss the physical place and more and more miss the lifestyle and the people. I didn't feel homesick at all for the first 2-3 years after I left and I'm paying it all back now.
2. Our future. Specifically how long we will be in the Navy, where we move next, what Don does after the Navy, what I do, when I get to do my real job, etc.
3. The upcoming deployment. I feel like it's coming very soon, it's going to be SO, SO long, and there are a billion things I need to do before it all happens. Eek!
4. And last but not least starting a family. I plan to blog further about this part, hopefully today.
But don't worry! I'm really OK. =] Actually, today is my first day in a long time with no commitments, work, appointments, etc. I'm loving my pajama day full of Project Runway reruns and relaxation.
12 October 2011
Just A Quck Update...
Well, I just got back from SeaTac Airport. Don is in the air and on his way to Washington DC via Chicago.
He will be there for a few days and on Thursday has an interview as part of his official Navy business.
I wish I could've tagged along but I think he'll be ok on his own for a few days. Wink.
I'm up later than I should be, so I'm going to go brew up some tea and hit the hay.
Good night!
He will be there for a few days and on Thursday has an interview as part of his official Navy business.
I wish I could've tagged along but I think he'll be ok on his own for a few days. Wink.
I'm up later than I should be, so I'm going to go brew up some tea and hit the hay.
Good night!
02 October 2011
Craft Time
I love fall. I love the pretty leaves, availability of pumpkins, and a good excuse to wear boots and scarves and mittens. Overwhelmed by a rare streak of domesticity, I started shopping for wreathes to hang on the front door. Our neighborhood is rather drab. Our friend Forest calls it "Downtown Baghdad" so take from that what you will.
Etsy was my first stop because I love nothing more than spending money without leaving the couch. (Sorry, honey!) However. Those things are EXPENSIVE!! I can buy half a cow for the same price as a few branches arranged artfully in a circle. No. No. No.
A little trip to Michaels set me up with all of the wreath-ery that I would need: grapevine wreath starters, fake leaves and flowers, hot glue, and floral wire.
As it turns out, the business of wreath-making is not as simple as I imagined. After an afternoon of wrestling with wire cutters and all manners of leaves and flora, here is what I came up with. I feel they are a bit juvenile, but they sure as heck didn't cost me $100! So there!
Comment and let me know if you have suggestions and what you think!
Etsy was my first stop because I love nothing more than spending money without leaving the couch. (Sorry, honey!) However. Those things are EXPENSIVE!! I can buy half a cow for the same price as a few branches arranged artfully in a circle. No. No. No.
A little trip to Michaels set me up with all of the wreath-ery that I would need: grapevine wreath starters, fake leaves and flowers, hot glue, and floral wire.
As it turns out, the business of wreath-making is not as simple as I imagined. After an afternoon of wrestling with wire cutters and all manners of leaves and flora, here is what I came up with. I feel they are a bit juvenile, but they sure as heck didn't cost me $100! So there!
Comment and let me know if you have suggestions and what you think!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)