Thursday, July 17, 2014
Moving On Up…. and Out.
I want to talk about PCSing! It's one of the most exciting, anxious, sad, and happy times in the military life. There is so much to look forward to when you PCS, but first there is so much to do! I have noticed a lot of wives post questions and comments about what to expect when your moving out of one home into another via the army. And it makes me think back to my first PCS move and how there was so much I wish I had known before hand, and so much I'll remember for next time.
But I thought I'd take some time and compile a list of things to do, not to do, and to expect. At least from my personal experience. And hopefully it will help at least one other wife out there. Because this sure would've helped me! And if I have overlooked or left anything out please let me know and post it below! :)
A few days before you move out:
With as often as the army can make you move, thank God they send movers to pack out your entire house! If we didn't have this I might run and hide when PCS time comes around! And while they do almost everything there are some things you need to do to ensure that nothing gets left behind or broken.
*Pack the bags with everything you plan on keeping with you throughout the move. And put it some place it can't be accidentally packed up. A closet with a sign on it, or a friends house works great. Make sure it's safe, because trust me if it's not nailed down they will pack it!
*Don't forget to keep all important paperwork with you in your CARRY ON, even papers you may not need for the move if there irreplaceable or expensive/hard to replace keep them. Birth certificates, marriage license, SScards, Passports, vehicle titles, his Orders, POA's, his Love Me book, ect. Because God forbid that one box or bag with any of these things were lost… well that would suck. So stick them in a file folder and make space in your carry on for them.
*Medical records, don't forget to pick up a hard copy from your hospital to add to your "important paperwork folder" Most hospitals will digitally transfer your files to your next duty station but it's still really smart to have a copy on you.
*Return things. Library books, your friends sweater, your neighbors casserole dish, get it back to them before it's packed up and sent away. I know what I'm talking about we had to pay 60$ for a library book when he cleared that was packed up!
*Take everything off the walls, whatever is nailed up or screwed in that you want to come with you, take it down. And if your keeping any hardware that comes with it (screws, nails, ext.) put it in a ziplock and label it.
*Go through your house, top to bottom, and trash the trash! If you don't they will, I repeat WILL pack it. As silly as that sounds it's there job to pack everything and there is no toy, man, or piece of garbage left behind.
*Take things to donate. that dress you haven't worn since 2008, the 2nd George Forman grill under the sink you haven't touched, toys, shoes, and clothes your kids have out grown. This is the perfect opportunity to downsize some things. Theres no point in trying to make room for stuff you haven't used in years, in your new home. Besides somewhere, someplace there is someone who would get some good use out of those things.
The day your movers arrive!
Now you might be tempted to pack things yourself, that china that was a wedding gift, or your favorite wine glass. But DON'T. The moving company often times is not responsible for anything that was broken during the move that you packed. What you can do though is supervise how it's packed.
*When it comes to that fine china (or anything else) your nervous about surviving the move, as much as you might want to don't pack it DON'T. But when you movers are ready to pack it DO supervise. If you don't think they used enough packing paper, ask them to add more, if they put too many things in one box, ask them to divide it. And maybe even have some bubble wrap (movers don't always use that) on hand to add to the box if that'll make you feel better. This way is something is broken the moving company still has it covered under their insurance.
*Make sure all your cabinets are opened up and anything that might be over looked is pulled out and put someplace visible. Thankfully our movers grabbed most things, but I did forget my Brita pitcher in the fridge…
*Ask about what they will, and won't pack. For us they packed unopened canned/dry goods, spices, and my wine! They would also pack my lotions and soaps, but only if I had a plastic container/box to seal them up in first. So just ask because you may be surprised at what they'll ship for you. And that'll be just one less thing you'll have to re-buy.
*Keep some water bottles, or/and sodas in the fridge for your movers. It's not required but it's thoughtful. And if you take care of them, they'll take care of you. :)
*Hardware, lets talk about that for a minute. Now the great thing about our movers was that they took things apart in one home, and the movers in the next put them back together! But the downside was that when it came to the hardware from our furniture they dumped it all together in ONE BOX! This might not sound so bad to you, but picture your movers on the other end getting all these puzzle pieces of furniture to put together and they haven't even seen what it looks like all together! So as they take things apart ask for the hardware and put it in labeled ziplock bags to be packed with that piece of furniture. Trust me you and your next set of movers will thank me for this! I wish I would've been told about this our first time.
*Your TV. Now it might be too late for this TV but keep the box it came in if it's a larger TV. Every company is different but some charge for TV boxes (this will come out of your pocket) some may just offer it, and others (like ours) will just wrap it in thick paper and stick it in the back of a truck. Which resulted for us in have some pixels go out. Now this is being fixed for us but it's just a hassle you'll really want to avoid. So keep those boxes! (As annoying as it can be to store them)
I think that about covers all the things I wish I had known, and now know to do for our next move. I hope this advise help you ladies out! Good luck! :)
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Overnight Oats, Breakfast in a jar:
So I just attended my first all organic vegan/vegetarian cooking class this evening, and I LOVED it. It's a great way to get introduced to some delicious new recipes, see them made, and actually get to taste them before putting the time into making them for yourself.
This evening Andrea (cooking class instructor) made 4 different vegan recipes for hot summer days when a good, healthy, but quick and cool meal is perfect when you'd rather be out doors the in a hot kitchen. All of them were made with whole grains, and it was nice to see that some whole grain breakfast foods can be pretty quick (when your not using things like instant oats).
I enjoyed all of them but surprisingly my favorite was the "Overnight Oats" I say surprisingly because when it comes to cereals oatmeal, or anything like it has never been high on my list of foods I like. (Just ask my mom!) But after this class I bought everything I needed to be able to put it together tonight for breakfast in the morning.
The class was in our organic vegetarian store, Down to Earth just down the road from me. So that also makes it easy to buy anything I need for the recipes that I like. And this meal, which feeds 2 only cost me about 6$ and everything in it is totally organic.
So here is the recipe, keep in mind it needs made the night before, but only takes about 5 minutes to throw together.
Overnight Oats:
Serves 2
2/3 cup Whole Oats
1/2 cup Shredded Coconut
2 Tbsp Chia Seeds
Pinch of Sea Salt
2/3 cup Almond Milk
2/3 (5oz) Yogurt of your choice (soy, almond, coconut, dairy)
1/2 Cup Banana
This evening Andrea (cooking class instructor) made 4 different vegan recipes for hot summer days when a good, healthy, but quick and cool meal is perfect when you'd rather be out doors the in a hot kitchen. All of them were made with whole grains, and it was nice to see that some whole grain breakfast foods can be pretty quick (when your not using things like instant oats).
I enjoyed all of them but surprisingly my favorite was the "Overnight Oats" I say surprisingly because when it comes to cereals oatmeal, or anything like it has never been high on my list of foods I like. (Just ask my mom!) But after this class I bought everything I needed to be able to put it together tonight for breakfast in the morning.
The class was in our organic vegetarian store, Down to Earth just down the road from me. So that also makes it easy to buy anything I need for the recipes that I like. And this meal, which feeds 2 only cost me about 6$ and everything in it is totally organic.
So here is the recipe, keep in mind it needs made the night before, but only takes about 5 minutes to throw together.
Overnight Oats:
Serves 2
2/3 cup Whole Oats
1/2 cup Shredded Coconut
2 Tbsp Chia Seeds
Pinch of Sea Salt
2/3 cup Almond Milk
2/3 (5oz) Yogurt of your choice (soy, almond, coconut, dairy)
1/2 Cup Banana
1. Stir all the ingredients together in a large bowl or a big jar. Gently fold in the banana last to keep it from bruising. Cover and let sit over night in the fridge. (I mixed mine in my 8 cup measuring and then spooned it into a quart sized mason jar with a lid to keep in the fridge)
2. To serve, remove desired amount of oatmeal. (Warm in a sauce pan or microwave if you don't want it cold) But it is best cold! So cool and creamy and sweet.
3. Top with your favorite nut butter, fruit, jam, or cereal if you like.
I used coconut almond milk, soy vanilla yogurt, and apple bananas in mine. It smells amazing and I am looking forward to digging into in the morning. The recipe says you can warm it up if you like, but I think that kind of defeats the purpose of a cool breakfast and it's so good as a cold cereal. You can add pretty much any yogurt flavor you like, and could try mix and matching with more or different fruits other then bananas if you want. So this cereal can be something new every time you make it, if it turns out to be a hit for you and your family.
ENJOY!
I know G and I will. :)
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
"Papayas should never be refrigerated." -Alice Walters
Papayas, once you slice them open there a beautiful brilliant orange with hints of pink near the rind. Their little dark seeds make them look so exotic, and they smell so warm and sweet. The sweet smell of papaya is noticeable even before you slice into one. And even with all these positive attributes I still can't convince myself to eat much of them raw, and never warm. But I had been given about 1/2 a dozen of them and just hated to let them go to waste sitting in my kitchen.
So after some thinking and online browsing I decided on Papaya Jam! It seemed like a perfect idea, and I have yet to meet a jam I didn't like. And the recipe I used is so simple and calls for no pectin so it has a softer jam/fruit preserve feel to it, which I like.
Here is what I used:
6 cups mashed Papaya
6 cups Sugar
8 Tbsp. Butter
4 Tbsp. Lemon Juice
Mix the sugar and mashed papaya together in a large sauce pan. Put over low heat and cook down until sticky. This part will take the longest. So set aside a couple hours and don't rush it. You'll want to stir it often so the sugar doesn't burn.
I tried some on toast before sealing my last jar and I must say I will now eat way more papaya! This jam is so delicious! And after reading more about Papaya and all the good things it does for the body. Well it makes me want to eat even more. :)
So after some thinking and online browsing I decided on Papaya Jam! It seemed like a perfect idea, and I have yet to meet a jam I didn't like. And the recipe I used is so simple and calls for no pectin so it has a softer jam/fruit preserve feel to it, which I like.
Here is what I used:
6 cups mashed Papaya
6 cups Sugar
8 Tbsp. Butter
4 Tbsp. Lemon Juice
Mix the sugar and mashed papaya together in a large sauce pan. Put over low heat and cook down until sticky. This part will take the longest. So set aside a couple hours and don't rush it. You'll want to stir it often so the sugar doesn't burn.
This is how it will look after being added to the sauce pan. Mostly just like smashed up papaya.
Then it will cook down and get nice and sticky. And turn to a richer orange color.
After it's been all cooked down add in the butter and lemon juice and stir for about a minute until it is all mixed together well.
I then carefully spooned the jam into 3 self sealing pint sized jars. It might not always come out exactly 3, it depends on just how much it's been cooked down. You can put it into smaller 1/2 pint jam jars, or really any size you'd like. But once you pop the seal to use the jam it wont stay good as long as the sealed jars. So since I don't go through jam super fast (except pineapple jam!) I like to use the smaller size. Once the jars are filled and lids are on, flip them upside down for an hour or two until they have sealed. The little hollow spot in the center of the lid should be down.
ENJOY!
And tell me what you think of your own jam turn out. Or what are some of your favorite jam recipes? I am always looking for more!
"How can a nation be great if it's bread tastes like Kleenex?" J.C.
Bread baking day! So yesterday I decided it was high time for some fresh bread in the house. So I called up my mother for my favorite bread recipe, the one she had been baking for us every month for years while I was growing up. And I decided to add some little touches of my own to it.
Her recipe is a wonderful rich whole wheat bread with a just hint of molasses. And I decided to take this rich sweet recipe and make it super nutty. Since nutty whole wheat bread is my absolute favorite sandwich bread. And it is super easy to make it organically and even vegetarian friendly by substituting the butter for sunflower, or safflower oil.
Here is the recipe. It makes 4 loaves of bread, or you can cut it in half to make 2. Usually 1 will last us long enough that with such warm Hawaiian weather here I wrap up the 2nd loaf in Seran wrap and slip it into a gallon & 1/2 size ziplock to keep in the freezer. It'll last for weeks if you make sure it's sealed up enough not to get freezer burnt.
In a small bowl, mix:
1 cup room temperature Water
2 Tbsp. Dried baker's Yeast
1 tsp. Molasses
Allow this to sit for 10 minutes, until foamy. (This shows that your yeast is still alive and will make the bread rise properly.)
Then pour it into a large bowl, along with:
3 1/2 cups of tepid Water
2 cups of Milk
1/2 cup of Molasses (sweet or blackstrap is fine)
1/2 cup of melted Butter
1 Tbsp salt
Then beat in 1 cup of Wheat Glutton. (If you don't have this on hand you can leave it out, it only makes the bread a little springier but wont ruin your end result if you don't have it.)
Here is where I add a touch of my own.
Before adding the flour I mix in:
4 Tbsp. Wheat Berries
4 Tbsp. Chopped raw Sunflower Seeds
4 Tbsp. Flax Seeds
4 Tbsp. Oats
4 Tbsp. Wheat Germ
This really gives the bread a nuttier taste that I just love! And you can adjust the amounts of each that you use, or leave out some and double up on others. I find all my grains and seeds at a local organic vegetarian store here, so try looking at a place like that if you have a hard time finding them at your local grocery.
Add 9 cups of Whole Wheat Flour Cover and set to rise for about an hour, or until it has doubled in size.
Then then beat down and one at a time mixing after each addition add
4-5 cups of Whole Wheat, or Unbleached White Flour. (These flours make for a healthier bread, but you can use white flour as well. Or mix and match the flours you use. Sometimes I use half unbleached and half whole wheat, and sometimes I just use all whole wheat.) Knead in and add flour as needed until the dough becomes smooth and workable. Knead an extra 10 minutes. Cover and let rise again, for one hour.
Divide the dough into 4 equal pieces. Grease 4 loaf pans. Shape loaves into the pans and let rise for about 30minutes or until doubled in size. *(Optional: I brush the tops of mine with some beaten egg and sprinkle on some of the seeds and grains I used inside the dough for a nice nutty crunchy crust.)*
Preheat the oven to 400*F, but turn the oven down to 350*F as soon as you have put the loaves in to bake. Bake for 40 minutes. Remove from pans and let cool for about 2 hours before storing. (I brush mine lightly with some milk, once there right out of the pans, top sides and bottom to help keep the moist) Even though this recipe seems to have a lot of steps. It's really not hard at all, just a little time consuming. But the end result is wonderful and well worth it. For taste and health!
Slice and enjoy! I just love the smell and taste of home baked bread. And everyone just eats this recipe up!
Her recipe is a wonderful rich whole wheat bread with a just hint of molasses. And I decided to take this rich sweet recipe and make it super nutty. Since nutty whole wheat bread is my absolute favorite sandwich bread. And it is super easy to make it organically and even vegetarian friendly by substituting the butter for sunflower, or safflower oil.
Here is the recipe. It makes 4 loaves of bread, or you can cut it in half to make 2. Usually 1 will last us long enough that with such warm Hawaiian weather here I wrap up the 2nd loaf in Seran wrap and slip it into a gallon & 1/2 size ziplock to keep in the freezer. It'll last for weeks if you make sure it's sealed up enough not to get freezer burnt.
In a small bowl, mix:
1 cup room temperature Water
2 Tbsp. Dried baker's Yeast
1 tsp. Molasses
Allow this to sit for 10 minutes, until foamy. (This shows that your yeast is still alive and will make the bread rise properly.)
Then pour it into a large bowl, along with:
3 1/2 cups of tepid Water
2 cups of Milk
1/2 cup of Molasses (sweet or blackstrap is fine)
1/2 cup of melted Butter
1 Tbsp salt
Then beat in 1 cup of Wheat Glutton. (If you don't have this on hand you can leave it out, it only makes the bread a little springier but wont ruin your end result if you don't have it.)
Here is where I add a touch of my own.
Before adding the flour I mix in:
4 Tbsp. Wheat Berries
4 Tbsp. Chopped raw Sunflower Seeds
4 Tbsp. Flax Seeds
4 Tbsp. Oats
4 Tbsp. Wheat Germ
This really gives the bread a nuttier taste that I just love! And you can adjust the amounts of each that you use, or leave out some and double up on others. I find all my grains and seeds at a local organic vegetarian store here, so try looking at a place like that if you have a hard time finding them at your local grocery.
Add 9 cups of Whole Wheat Flour Cover and set to rise for about an hour, or until it has doubled in size.
Then then beat down and one at a time mixing after each addition add
4-5 cups of Whole Wheat, or Unbleached White Flour. (These flours make for a healthier bread, but you can use white flour as well. Or mix and match the flours you use. Sometimes I use half unbleached and half whole wheat, and sometimes I just use all whole wheat.) Knead in and add flour as needed until the dough becomes smooth and workable. Knead an extra 10 minutes. Cover and let rise again, for one hour.
Divide the dough into 4 equal pieces. Grease 4 loaf pans. Shape loaves into the pans and let rise for about 30minutes or until doubled in size. *(Optional: I brush the tops of mine with some beaten egg and sprinkle on some of the seeds and grains I used inside the dough for a nice nutty crunchy crust.)*
Preheat the oven to 400*F, but turn the oven down to 350*F as soon as you have put the loaves in to bake. Bake for 40 minutes. Remove from pans and let cool for about 2 hours before storing. (I brush mine lightly with some milk, once there right out of the pans, top sides and bottom to help keep the moist) Even though this recipe seems to have a lot of steps. It's really not hard at all, just a little time consuming. But the end result is wonderful and well worth it. For taste and health!
Slice and enjoy! I just love the smell and taste of home baked bread. And everyone just eats this recipe up!
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Our beginning of 2012 in photos!
Home and together again!
We are so silly.
Army ball. What a fun and crazy night!
Beach baby.
Daddy doing her nails.
A New Year
I know I haven't been keeping up with this blog like I planned but I will try and do better. My husband is home from his deployment to Afganistan and we are all home together again in Hawaii. Hopefully we wont have another deployment to go through again for quite a while. I'm really enjoying getting settled back into our life together again. Running my own home again, spending so much time together, cooking dinners, and even the laundry I don't mind at all. (At least for now. lol)
His leave is coming up soon and I'm really excited for even more time that we'll have together, before normal leangth work days and weeks kick in again. And Genesis warmed up to him again with almost no problem. She just loves playing with him, and picking on him. :)
I'll have more to post later, but for now I just wanted to give my blog a quick makeover and let everyone know I'm still here and we'er all doing well.
Until later -This is the Life!-
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy.
So My husband and I have been married now for just over two and a half years. And unfortunately we are already on our 2nd deployment leaving us with just over a year of actually being in the same house, let alone the same state together. One of these days soon though we will reach a time were we have been together more then apart. And I know allot of other military wives can relate well to what I am talking about. Although I guess between all the schools and training we have actually been together less then that. And even though I hate that fact, I am reassured in it because with all the time we have had to spend apart our marriage is always getting stronger and more beautiful every day.
Before I met my husband, I never imagined that I would be married to a soldier. The town I am from isn't very big and everyone in it knows someone who knows you. This town is also an hour away from any sort of military base and even though I have retired military extended family it's never really been a life style I've known until now. And I must say it really has grown on me. I love the camaraderie that you can find in many of the wives here. The fact that your neighbors and friends and even people you run into at the commissary know exactly what deployments are like, and what it's like going home to an empty bed night after night during those times.
One thing I have learned over our times apart is how to laugh. To be able to laugh at myself and to find the joy in life. Even during the times all the joy seems to be sucked out of it. I love reading books written by other military wives who know how to find the joy in life as well. Because even though there are so many many times all I want to do is curl up and cry I try and find things to make me laugh. It's keeps my spirits strong and my outlook so much more bright. Which is very important or you'll tend to sink.
I remember one afternoon some of the girls and I decided to take our kids and have a day at the beach, (Which is definitely one perk to being stationed in Hawaii!) there are many secluded beaches, and it's easy to find a spot away from roaming tourists and new Privets trying to pick up chicks. We planned the night before to go and I was very glad we did once I got in the shower that next morning. Knowing we were about to have a day at the beach I of course dug my razor out of the bottom of my cosmetic bag where it had been living for the past almost 3 weeks. And I swear once I got started it took all of 20 minutes to actually shave every unsightly hair off my body! Once my husband deployed I saw no need for this sort of extra maintenance, and had neglected it badly. I had razor burns in places I didn't know you could get razor burns! When I finally finished and my daughter and I were beach ready we headed out for our day in the blue waters. It was all fun and games and we were hunting for shells just under the shallow waves when a bit of seaweed floated over my girlfriends leg. "What was that!" she asked while pulling her legs back. I told her it was just seaweed as I looked down at it. Then I saw this seaweed scurry sideways... We all ran screaming from the waves toward the sand. It was a huge crab! When we realized what we just did, and what we must look like we collapsed on the sand laughing hysterically! And I know that we all very much needed that afternoon. I went home feeling so refreshed and energized. All because a crab turned us into screaming little girls.
It's those little things we learn to laugh at and use to make our day joyful.
-This is the life!-
Before I met my husband, I never imagined that I would be married to a soldier. The town I am from isn't very big and everyone in it knows someone who knows you. This town is also an hour away from any sort of military base and even though I have retired military extended family it's never really been a life style I've known until now. And I must say it really has grown on me. I love the camaraderie that you can find in many of the wives here. The fact that your neighbors and friends and even people you run into at the commissary know exactly what deployments are like, and what it's like going home to an empty bed night after night during those times.
One thing I have learned over our times apart is how to laugh. To be able to laugh at myself and to find the joy in life. Even during the times all the joy seems to be sucked out of it. I love reading books written by other military wives who know how to find the joy in life as well. Because even though there are so many many times all I want to do is curl up and cry I try and find things to make me laugh. It's keeps my spirits strong and my outlook so much more bright. Which is very important or you'll tend to sink.
I remember one afternoon some of the girls and I decided to take our kids and have a day at the beach, (Which is definitely one perk to being stationed in Hawaii!) there are many secluded beaches, and it's easy to find a spot away from roaming tourists and new Privets trying to pick up chicks. We planned the night before to go and I was very glad we did once I got in the shower that next morning. Knowing we were about to have a day at the beach I of course dug my razor out of the bottom of my cosmetic bag where it had been living for the past almost 3 weeks. And I swear once I got started it took all of 20 minutes to actually shave every unsightly hair off my body! Once my husband deployed I saw no need for this sort of extra maintenance, and had neglected it badly. I had razor burns in places I didn't know you could get razor burns! When I finally finished and my daughter and I were beach ready we headed out for our day in the blue waters. It was all fun and games and we were hunting for shells just under the shallow waves when a bit of seaweed floated over my girlfriends leg. "What was that!" she asked while pulling her legs back. I told her it was just seaweed as I looked down at it. Then I saw this seaweed scurry sideways... We all ran screaming from the waves toward the sand. It was a huge crab! When we realized what we just did, and what we must look like we collapsed on the sand laughing hysterically! And I know that we all very much needed that afternoon. I went home feeling so refreshed and energized. All because a crab turned us into screaming little girls.
It's those little things we learn to laugh at and use to make our day joyful.
-This is the life!-
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
It's D Day (Year) Again.
So I really did mean to write more often on this blog then I have lately. But things just got so hectic with my husbands deployment. He flew over seas a couple of weeks ago and we have now begun our next deployment together. Something I have been dreading, but honestly I can't complain too much because we did get over a year together between deployments. And he was able to be here for the whole first year of our daughters life. We were very blessed for that.
Now I am just trying to get into the swing of deployment again. Even though we did get so much time together it just seems that it's come too soon again. And while I was hoping that maybe this deployment would be a little easier for me because it's not our first together and I have our daughter to keep me busy and so many great friends here and family we will be going back to visit, I really think this one is going to be harder just in the sense that over the past year and a half we have grown so much together and so much closer together. We were only married for a few days before last deployment and had only been a couple for about four months. And while I loved him very much we were still new to each other and hadn't grown as close as we are now.
And even though deployments are the worst part of Army life I am so very proud of him. And I love that he loves his job so much. Sometimes I think about what it would be like for him to just have a normal 9 to 5 job and not have to be away from him for years at a time. But I know that he wouldn't be as happy in that type of job as he is being a soldier. And I would rather have to deal with deployments and him love his work, then for him to be miserable in his job. And I really do enjoy the Army life. I love the community, the pride, the ability we have to travel. And I like that in my own way I can be involved too, as part of the FRG and volunteer positions.
I am as prepared as I can be for this deployment and all I can do is wait, and pray, and do my part from home to let him know that we are here for him till he is home to us. We have already sent him letters and a care package. =) And our daughter loves to color pictures for him. In between tasting the crayons of course. So hopefully this deployment goes quickly and safely for him and all the men over there. So for now I'll just try and stay busy and try not to watch the calendar too much. Even though I know every day how many, months, weeks, and days we have left.
This is the life.
Now I am just trying to get into the swing of deployment again. Even though we did get so much time together it just seems that it's come too soon again. And while I was hoping that maybe this deployment would be a little easier for me because it's not our first together and I have our daughter to keep me busy and so many great friends here and family we will be going back to visit, I really think this one is going to be harder just in the sense that over the past year and a half we have grown so much together and so much closer together. We were only married for a few days before last deployment and had only been a couple for about four months. And while I loved him very much we were still new to each other and hadn't grown as close as we are now.
And even though deployments are the worst part of Army life I am so very proud of him. And I love that he loves his job so much. Sometimes I think about what it would be like for him to just have a normal 9 to 5 job and not have to be away from him for years at a time. But I know that he wouldn't be as happy in that type of job as he is being a soldier. And I would rather have to deal with deployments and him love his work, then for him to be miserable in his job. And I really do enjoy the Army life. I love the community, the pride, the ability we have to travel. And I like that in my own way I can be involved too, as part of the FRG and volunteer positions.
I am as prepared as I can be for this deployment and all I can do is wait, and pray, and do my part from home to let him know that we are here for him till he is home to us. We have already sent him letters and a care package. =) And our daughter loves to color pictures for him. In between tasting the crayons of course. So hopefully this deployment goes quickly and safely for him and all the men over there. So for now I'll just try and stay busy and try not to watch the calendar too much. Even though I know every day how many, months, weeks, and days we have left.
This is the life.
Friday, October 29, 2010
From here to there and back again. Baby G's on the move!
So we have made it to a huge milestone in our Baby G's life. She is crawling now! Not just crawling but also pulling her self up on anything and everything she can! It seems to have started so fast. It feels like just yesterday she was learning to sit up on her own, or to hold her little head up. But now, now that little girl is into everything! I knew it would be like this so even though I was excited seeing her learn to sit, and hold herself up on hands and knees I was also in no rush for her to actually start crawling around. =) But it is very exciting and lots of fun! She is right at that age where everyday is seems that she learns something new.
Yesterday we went by the PX waiting on my husband to get off work and I found that they had all those Zhu-zhu pets that I have always thought were so cute in the ads. So of course I bought one for G. And let me just say that was the best 7 dollars I have ever spent! She thinks it is just hilarious! She'll follow him around on the carpet and then laugh and laugh when he turns around and rolls over her little hand or bumps her in the leg. It's really one of the cutest things I've ever seen!
So I only have a couple of weeks left before I head back to my parents for the holidays while my husband is away at Sniper school. I really am looking forward to it! And for a change in the weather, and a chance to spend some quality time with our families. Hopefully my husband will be able to come up and join us for a week or two at Christmas! (Oh I really really hope so!)
Deployment is creeping up way too fast. The times with him home, the days seem to just fly by. But deployments drag on so that it feels like a lifetime of waiting. (Of course I would wait 2 lifetimes for him!) I feel like I just can't seem to cram enough hours in the day to spend with him!
Nothing else too new or exciting to report. =) Spending lots of time with my family of course. And preparing for G and I going to IL for a visit and my husband heading off for school. Making the most of every single day with him in the meantime.
Yesterday we went by the PX waiting on my husband to get off work and I found that they had all those Zhu-zhu pets that I have always thought were so cute in the ads. So of course I bought one for G. And let me just say that was the best 7 dollars I have ever spent! She thinks it is just hilarious! She'll follow him around on the carpet and then laugh and laugh when he turns around and rolls over her little hand or bumps her in the leg. It's really one of the cutest things I've ever seen!
So I only have a couple of weeks left before I head back to my parents for the holidays while my husband is away at Sniper school. I really am looking forward to it! And for a change in the weather, and a chance to spend some quality time with our families. Hopefully my husband will be able to come up and join us for a week or two at Christmas! (Oh I really really hope so!)
Deployment is creeping up way too fast. The times with him home, the days seem to just fly by. But deployments drag on so that it feels like a lifetime of waiting. (Of course I would wait 2 lifetimes for him!) I feel like I just can't seem to cram enough hours in the day to spend with him!
Nothing else too new or exciting to report. =) Spending lots of time with my family of course. And preparing for G and I going to IL for a visit and my husband heading off for school. Making the most of every single day with him in the meantime.
Monday, September 27, 2010
I Am My Beloveds
Well yesterday began another long week for my husband and I. He is out in the field all week training for Afghanistan and I am just taking care of things here at home until he gets back at the end of the week. Although I have gotten so much accomplished! And in just one day, I was able to get the spare room totally cleaned out and all of his gear organized which means I was able to get the other things I have been wanting stored finally put away so our living/dining room looks so much bigger and nice and fresh. =) So next on my list is cleaning the bathrooms, re-vacuuming the floors, and maybe some minor redecorating. =)
Anyway I'm sure that wasn't a very exciting update, but that's what is going on right now. We are getting closer to Baby G and my visit back to Illinois to see our family. I am really looking forward to it, but not wishing the time away to get to that point either. Because it's just too much to think that by the time I am back with my husband after our visit we will only be a few short months away from deployment! It sure does have a way of creeping up on us.
But until it does creep up too close and until our visit with family I am busy spending every single spare minute between training with my husband. I want to not only get quality time with him, and our daughter together. But also to help build our marriage even stronger. Deployment sure can have a way of knocking the wind out of your sails when it comes to the strength in marriage sometimes. So I want our bonds, and love, and marriage to be not only as strong as we can make them, but also steadily getting stronger every day. We were able to go to a Marriage Retreat that was set up by the Army for the 2-27 families, it was wonderful. It was a great learning experience for us. And since they provided child care we were able to go out on a date just the two of us. It was wonderful, it was the first time since our daughter was born that we have been able to do that. We enjoyed downtown Wikiki (which was were the retreat was held) walking along the beach at sunset, going through the International Market Place, and just being able to walk and talk and have dinner while just focusing on each other. I think we really needed a night like that. =)
So I guess that's about it at the moment. Those are my goals and plans for the next few months. And as for this week I have getting the house organized, and taking care of G to keep me busy until he is home again.
Anyway I'm sure that wasn't a very exciting update, but that's what is going on right now. We are getting closer to Baby G and my visit back to Illinois to see our family. I am really looking forward to it, but not wishing the time away to get to that point either. Because it's just too much to think that by the time I am back with my husband after our visit we will only be a few short months away from deployment! It sure does have a way of creeping up on us.
But until it does creep up too close and until our visit with family I am busy spending every single spare minute between training with my husband. I want to not only get quality time with him, and our daughter together. But also to help build our marriage even stronger. Deployment sure can have a way of knocking the wind out of your sails when it comes to the strength in marriage sometimes. So I want our bonds, and love, and marriage to be not only as strong as we can make them, but also steadily getting stronger every day. We were able to go to a Marriage Retreat that was set up by the Army for the 2-27 families, it was wonderful. It was a great learning experience for us. And since they provided child care we were able to go out on a date just the two of us. It was wonderful, it was the first time since our daughter was born that we have been able to do that. We enjoyed downtown Wikiki (which was were the retreat was held) walking along the beach at sunset, going through the International Market Place, and just being able to walk and talk and have dinner while just focusing on each other. I think we really needed a night like that. =)
So I guess that's about it at the moment. Those are my goals and plans for the next few months. And as for this week I have getting the house organized, and taking care of G to keep me busy until he is home again.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
All bets are in and the winner is...
So we finally got our orders! I add an exclamation point to the end of the sentence because normally it's exciting to find out where we will be living for the next three years. It's like roulette you place your bets and the ball falls where it will. And in our case the ball fell in the exact same spot as it's fallen the past two reenlistments. That's right ladies and gentleman, we are staying in Hawaii... again. But honestly I can't complain too much, it is Hawaii after all. =)
Anyway heres our story, my husband has been stationed here for awhile now, it would have been six years if we hadn't gotten orders for here again. But he likes it here, he likes the island, he likes the unit, he likes who he works with and for. And don't get me wrong, I like it here too and I like that he likes his job. I just hate that it is so far from family with us just having a new baby. And since we both have little brothers still living at home it's just too difficult and expensive to have them fly all the way out here. Anyway that's pretty much the only downside.
So he decided quite a few months ago that he would like to put in an IPCOT to extend his time on the island (since he loves this unit) and I was okay with that too because more then living on a post location we like I want him to like the post he works on. Well just a month ago or so he decided maybe he'd like to change units, for a break from deployments mostly (this upcoming one will be #4, and #2 for both of us). His IPCOT was too far along to stop it, but he really didn't think it would be approved since he had already been here so long. So we weren't too worried about it. Then surprise surprise he gets his orders for Hawaii yesterday! But it's not all bad, we do like it here. And our daughter and I will be spending almost all 12 months of this upcoming deployment with our families in IL anyway so that'll be nice.
And we finally get to get me command sponsored. That's a long messy story but basically we were married 2 days before he deployed and we weren't really able to do what needed to be done with him in Iraq and me in IL (and with me also being new at the Army lingo) and by the time he was home and we were back in HI together he was just shy of a year left on the island so ergo no command sponsorship, and no cola collecting for us. =( But now that we have more time here, we can have me and G command sponsored which just means a little more pay for living expenses. (yay)
Anyway it has been a long busy day with all that paperwork, and unexpected plans for us.
Also another bit of fun news, Baby G is 6 months old as of the 5th! She is 15.4lbs, 26in long and a perfectly happy healthy baby. She is just growing so fast! Every day she seems to know how to do something new. =)
This sure is the life!!
Anyway heres our story, my husband has been stationed here for awhile now, it would have been six years if we hadn't gotten orders for here again. But he likes it here, he likes the island, he likes the unit, he likes who he works with and for. And don't get me wrong, I like it here too and I like that he likes his job. I just hate that it is so far from family with us just having a new baby. And since we both have little brothers still living at home it's just too difficult and expensive to have them fly all the way out here. Anyway that's pretty much the only downside.
So he decided quite a few months ago that he would like to put in an IPCOT to extend his time on the island (since he loves this unit) and I was okay with that too because more then living on a post location we like I want him to like the post he works on. Well just a month ago or so he decided maybe he'd like to change units, for a break from deployments mostly (this upcoming one will be #4, and #2 for both of us). His IPCOT was too far along to stop it, but he really didn't think it would be approved since he had already been here so long. So we weren't too worried about it. Then surprise surprise he gets his orders for Hawaii yesterday! But it's not all bad, we do like it here. And our daughter and I will be spending almost all 12 months of this upcoming deployment with our families in IL anyway so that'll be nice.
And we finally get to get me command sponsored. That's a long messy story but basically we were married 2 days before he deployed and we weren't really able to do what needed to be done with him in Iraq and me in IL (and with me also being new at the Army lingo) and by the time he was home and we were back in HI together he was just shy of a year left on the island so ergo no command sponsorship, and no cola collecting for us. =( But now that we have more time here, we can have me and G command sponsored which just means a little more pay for living expenses. (yay)
Anyway it has been a long busy day with all that paperwork, and unexpected plans for us.
Also another bit of fun news, Baby G is 6 months old as of the 5th! She is 15.4lbs, 26in long and a perfectly happy healthy baby. She is just growing so fast! Every day she seems to know how to do something new. =)
This sure is the life!!
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Deployment training, and future plans.
Well here I am going through another week of my husband being at the field. And my days are as backwards as ever! For some reason the Army has decided to start their work weeks on Saturday or Sunday, and send them home on Wednesdays or Thursdays. So we have been feeling a day or two off around here this month. Thankfully it should slow down a little bit next month and there wont be quite so many weeks out at the field... for a little while anyway. But September and October should be the last of our slow months. (at least I hope there slow!) In November I'll be headed home for a visit, and my Darling Husband will be on his way to Sniper school. Then we have the holidays and starting January deployment training will be in full swing!
I can't believe how fast this one is sneaking up on us, it seems like he just got home from the last! But that's the Army for you I suppose they give you about a month then they'll be reminding you every day just how close the next deployment is. At least they do in the Infantry. And as always I am certainly full of mixed feelings. Since our daughter and I will be spending almost all of this 12 month deployment in Illinois with family that makes me happy. Living so far away from then we don't get much of a chance for her to be around them so that part I am looking forward to. But of course my husband having to be gone and in Afghanistan I am NOT at all looking forward to at all! Though I am thankful every day he has gotten this entire 1st year at home to spend with our baby girl. And we have lots of plans on things to do to help her remember and be able to see and hear her daddy every day despite the miles between us.
Anyway Baby G is getting fussy (it's about her bedtime) so I'm going to try and get her to bed now.
This is the life! =)
I can't believe how fast this one is sneaking up on us, it seems like he just got home from the last! But that's the Army for you I suppose they give you about a month then they'll be reminding you every day just how close the next deployment is. At least they do in the Infantry. And as always I am certainly full of mixed feelings. Since our daughter and I will be spending almost all of this 12 month deployment in Illinois with family that makes me happy. Living so far away from then we don't get much of a chance for her to be around them so that part I am looking forward to. But of course my husband having to be gone and in Afghanistan I am NOT at all looking forward to at all! Though I am thankful every day he has gotten this entire 1st year at home to spend with our baby girl. And we have lots of plans on things to do to help her remember and be able to see and hear her daddy every day despite the miles between us.
Anyway Baby G is getting fussy (it's about her bedtime) so I'm going to try and get her to bed now.
This is the life! =)
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Home for the Holidays!
So my husband should be home from the range tomorrow. I will be really happy once this month is over. Not that their training will slow down at all but at least next month he wont be out at the range quite as often in September.
But on the upside I do finally have my dates, and plane ticket to Illinois! I'll be going mid November! I am so excited to finally get back for a visit and for our families to meet our daughter. So far my mom is the only one who has since she flew out here when she was born.
Unfortunately my husband wont be coming with us because he will be in Sniper School, but hopefully if things work out well he will be coming up to IL to spend Christmas with us. This will be the first time in over a year that I have been back to see our families. And even though I am so going to miss my husband like crazy I am looking forward to some time with my parents and brothers. And for Baby G to meet her grandparents and uncles. I am glad that our families live all within about 45 minutes of each other. It will make getting enough time with everyone allot easier.
I'm going to have to find out what I am going to do about clothes though. I don't have any warm clothes here except a couple of sweatshirts and there really isn't any place to buy them either. I must say I am happy to be going back for a visit but I wish it didn't have to be in the dead of winter. =) At least I'll have an excuse to buy some new jeans and boots!
I do hope it snows for Christmas though so that G can see some snow. We don't get to much of that here in Hawaii. =)
And hopefully her first plane ride goes smoothly as well, I'm not looking forward to doing it on my own so some helpful stewardesses would be great too.
Well I better get off here and finish getting the house cleaned up before Baby G wakes up from her afternoon nap.
But on the upside I do finally have my dates, and plane ticket to Illinois! I'll be going mid November! I am so excited to finally get back for a visit and for our families to meet our daughter. So far my mom is the only one who has since she flew out here when she was born.
Unfortunately my husband wont be coming with us because he will be in Sniper School, but hopefully if things work out well he will be coming up to IL to spend Christmas with us. This will be the first time in over a year that I have been back to see our families. And even though I am so going to miss my husband like crazy I am looking forward to some time with my parents and brothers. And for Baby G to meet her grandparents and uncles. I am glad that our families live all within about 45 minutes of each other. It will make getting enough time with everyone allot easier.
I'm going to have to find out what I am going to do about clothes though. I don't have any warm clothes here except a couple of sweatshirts and there really isn't any place to buy them either. I must say I am happy to be going back for a visit but I wish it didn't have to be in the dead of winter. =) At least I'll have an excuse to buy some new jeans and boots!
I do hope it snows for Christmas though so that G can see some snow. We don't get to much of that here in Hawaii. =)
And hopefully her first plane ride goes smoothly as well, I'm not looking forward to doing it on my own so some helpful stewardesses would be great too.
Well I better get off here and finish getting the house cleaned up before Baby G wakes up from her afternoon nap.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Just a short up-date.
I know it has been so long long since I have really up-dated. And to be honest no one may have noticed so I suppose that's alright. I have just been so busy with life. Training for my husband for his up coming deployment to Afghanistan has really set in so he has been gone on and off for days at a time which leaves me not only missing him but taking care of everything on my own here at home. Including our baby girl who just turned 5 months old this month. And she hasn't been taking her daddy being gone very well either, she hardly sleeps, and I can't seem to get her to bed earlier then 1 in the morning on the days he is gone.
I'm just glad I have so many good friends here, and enough things to do at home, with our daughter, and the FRG to keep me busy.
To be honest I am pretty nervous about this deployment. I mean he has had them in the past, and was gone for one just two days after we were married. But they have been Iraq, and Afghanistan just sounds a lot more scary to me... So for now I'm just doing what I have to and not give it too much thought. Instead when I think about this up-coming deployment I just think about all the things that Baby G and I are going to do for him. Our plans for care packages, and pictures I'll help G color, and things we'll send him for the holidays.
Anyway I'll try to keep up on this more, eventually things will slow down... maybe. =)
I'm just glad I have so many good friends here, and enough things to do at home, with our daughter, and the FRG to keep me busy.
To be honest I am pretty nervous about this deployment. I mean he has had them in the past, and was gone for one just two days after we were married. But they have been Iraq, and Afghanistan just sounds a lot more scary to me... So for now I'm just doing what I have to and not give it too much thought. Instead when I think about this up-coming deployment I just think about all the things that Baby G and I are going to do for him. Our plans for care packages, and pictures I'll help G color, and things we'll send him for the holidays.
Anyway I'll try to keep up on this more, eventually things will slow down... maybe. =)
Friday, July 23, 2010
Sugar & Spice Boutique
I just wanted to let everyone, and anyone who is interested that I have just started a home business. It is called Sugar & Spice Boutique and I make and design headbands and hairbows for infant and toddler/child girls.
I have a facebook page set up for it, and there is a button on the side bar if you are interested in looking into what I have avaliable for sale.
I can ship them anywhere in the states. And for those of you who live in Oahu Hawaii I do have pick-up available so you can by-pass the shipping fee.
Here is a copy of the information note I have posted on my site.
Hello everyone, and welcome to Sugar & Spice Boutique! I am brand new at this so there are still a few kinks to work out, but I think i have a pretty good start so far. Over the next couple of weeks i will be making more bows and adding more pictures. So if you don't see anything that catches your eye now check back again often because I'll be adding lots.
Also if you have any ideas for custom bows, or designs I haven't thought of yet please feel free to send me a message. I'd love the input!
All of my headbands and bows are handmade by me. I have quite a few different ribbons, headbands, and embellishments and am always adding more. If there is something I don't carry let me know and I will try and find it for you. Also if you already have a particular ribbon your in love with I can have you send it to me and I will style a bow from that.
The embellishments are optional and you can always add more or less to each headband. I haven't set prices on adding them yet but we'll work it out as we go along according to which ones, and how many you choose. These are sewn or hot-glued onto the head-bands depending on the placement and style. I have made quite a few for my daughter and haven't had any problems with them coming off at all.
I can do two basic bows right now, and that is the simple 4 loop bow like the Pretty Princess Bow, and the more intricate muti-loop bow like the American Baby Bow. But I'll be playing around with trying new ones as well and will post pictures as there completed. These I can do in different sizes, just let me know how large or small you'd like them.
As of now I have set the prices for the bows I have completed in the "Completed Hair-bow & Head-bands" picture file. Though the shipping hasn't been added yet. The embellishments that are already on the bows are included in the price. If you'd like me to add more I will charge according to which ones and how many you choose. I am not sure on the shipping rates yet I plan on finding out and posting them by this weekend. I live in Ewa Beach HI and for those of you willing to pick up your completed Bows I will waive the shipping fee of course!
I hope everyone finds something they like! Please feel free to leave me comments, feedback, and ideas. I'd love to hear them! If you have any questions or would like to place an order just send me a message! I am working on setting up pay-pal for purchases and for those of you picking them up directly from me cash or check is fine.
Thank you!
-Hannah
Enjoy!
I have a facebook page set up for it, and there is a button on the side bar if you are interested in looking into what I have avaliable for sale.
I can ship them anywhere in the states. And for those of you who live in Oahu Hawaii I do have pick-up available so you can by-pass the shipping fee.
Here is a copy of the information note I have posted on my site.
Hello everyone, and welcome to Sugar & Spice Boutique! I am brand new at this so there are still a few kinks to work out, but I think i have a pretty good start so far. Over the next couple of weeks i will be making more bows and adding more pictures. So if you don't see anything that catches your eye now check back again often because I'll be adding lots.
Also if you have any ideas for custom bows, or designs I haven't thought of yet please feel free to send me a message. I'd love the input!
All of my headbands and bows are handmade by me. I have quite a few different ribbons, headbands, and embellishments and am always adding more. If there is something I don't carry let me know and I will try and find it for you. Also if you already have a particular ribbon your in love with I can have you send it to me and I will style a bow from that.
The embellishments are optional and you can always add more or less to each headband. I haven't set prices on adding them yet but we'll work it out as we go along according to which ones, and how many you choose. These are sewn or hot-glued onto the head-bands depending on the placement and style. I have made quite a few for my daughter and haven't had any problems with them coming off at all.
I can do two basic bows right now, and that is the simple 4 loop bow like the Pretty Princess Bow, and the more intricate muti-loop bow like the American Baby Bow. But I'll be playing around with trying new ones as well and will post pictures as there completed. These I can do in different sizes, just let me know how large or small you'd like them.
As of now I have set the prices for the bows I have completed in the "Completed Hair-bow & Head-bands" picture file. Though the shipping hasn't been added yet. The embellishments that are already on the bows are included in the price. If you'd like me to add more I will charge according to which ones and how many you choose. I am not sure on the shipping rates yet I plan on finding out and posting them by this weekend. I live in Ewa Beach HI and for those of you willing to pick up your completed Bows I will waive the shipping fee of course!
I hope everyone finds something they like! Please feel free to leave me comments, feedback, and ideas. I'd love to hear them! If you have any questions or would like to place an order just send me a message! I am working on setting up pay-pal for purchases and for those of you picking them up directly from me cash or check is fine.
Thank you!
-Hannah
Enjoy!
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
What? A Clean House!?
Well I can't believe it myself but I actually got the house cleaned, even the bathrooms! Genesis isn't eating quite as often as she had been (every hour!) =) and she likes her swing allot, so when she starts to get tired if I put her in her swing she falls right asleep and stays that way for a few hours. I almost thought this day would never come. =)
Anyway I grabbed those few hours while she was sleeping yesterday to get the entire house cleaned up! Well, not the entire house... we have a spare room that has become a "catch all" for all of my husbands gear, well all his gear that isn't in our two storage rooms, and at the company. He has allot of gear! But that room I didn't touch, I just shut the door and ignore it. lol
Over the weekend we had a dinner at our house with some of my husbands friends from work. It was allot of fun, and surprisingly after dinner I put Genesis to bed and she slept all night! So I actually got one evening of a social life.. almost forgot what that was like. And thankfully his friends clean up after themselves... because since we didn't have a table long enough for beer pong, my husband actually took the spare room door off it's hinges to use for a beer pong table top. And beer pong went down in my dining room... I suppose I should give them a gold star for creativity. lol
But it was a fun night, thats for sure.
Anyway I grabbed those few hours while she was sleeping yesterday to get the entire house cleaned up! Well, not the entire house... we have a spare room that has become a "catch all" for all of my husbands gear, well all his gear that isn't in our two storage rooms, and at the company. He has allot of gear! But that room I didn't touch, I just shut the door and ignore it. lol
Over the weekend we had a dinner at our house with some of my husbands friends from work. It was allot of fun, and surprisingly after dinner I put Genesis to bed and she slept all night! So I actually got one evening of a social life.. almost forgot what that was like. And thankfully his friends clean up after themselves... because since we didn't have a table long enough for beer pong, my husband actually took the spare room door off it's hinges to use for a beer pong table top. And beer pong went down in my dining room... I suppose I should give them a gold star for creativity. lol
But it was a fun night, thats for sure.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Welcome to the Blog Hop.
Hello everyone and welcome to my blog! I am on the blog hop hosted by Riding the Roller Coaster.
And for those of you new to my blog: Hello, my name is Hannah. I am married to a wonderful man who is in the Army Infantry. We are stationed out here in Hawaii. And we just had a beautiful baby girl!
I really love meeting other military spouses and places like my blog here is one of the easiest ways to do that since our daughter being not quite 2 months and hates her car seat is hard to take out many places right now. =)
I really enjoy fleamarkets, farmers markets, cooking, and spending every second I can with my husband because for us deployments come way too often. We are actually in the process of gearing up for another on next spring... and it feels like he just got home! =(
Anyway I hope to meet some new girls, and make some new friends!
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Fleamarket Extravaganza.
Well yesterday was just beautiful and Genesis and I took every advantage of it! We went with my friend Cat to a fleamarket downtown. I was great fun and Genesis loved being out in the sunshine! She likes spending time outside when ever she gets a chance. We walked around for about three hours and I brought home a couple of really great finds. I bought Genesis a coconut monkey head bank. It's so cute and will go with her room perfectly as soon as I get it decorated like I want.
It's a jungle type theme, with lots of animals and bright colors!
And I bought the most wonderful garlic balsamic olive oil dip. It is locally made and so awesome!
So of course I came right home and made some challah and coffee to go with it for dinner. Because it is my opinion that challah can make a wonderful dipping bread! It is a little sweet and goes perfectly with the vinaigrette that has a great bite, with just a hint of sweet.
Now I am hoping around the first part of next month I will find a farmers market to go to. I have yet to visit one since I moved to Hawaii and I would love to get my hands on some fresh locally grown produce.
So anyway I am spending today recovering from just a touch of sunburn =), and relaxing with my baby girl waiting for my husband to get home from work. He has Friday off!
This is the life.
It's a jungle type theme, with lots of animals and bright colors!
And I bought the most wonderful garlic balsamic olive oil dip. It is locally made and so awesome!
So of course I came right home and made some challah and coffee to go with it for dinner. Because it is my opinion that challah can make a wonderful dipping bread! It is a little sweet and goes perfectly with the vinaigrette that has a great bite, with just a hint of sweet.
Now I am hoping around the first part of next month I will find a farmers market to go to. I have yet to visit one since I moved to Hawaii and I would love to get my hands on some fresh locally grown produce.
So anyway I am spending today recovering from just a touch of sunburn =), and relaxing with my baby girl waiting for my husband to get home from work. He has Friday off!
This is the life.
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