And the Army goes rolling along......

And here I am....again.

2012-02-09T15:25:00.000-10:00

I know, I know. I said I was sticking around my blog and then I up and left.

Way to follow through.

I have been pretty busy though. Shortly after my last post, we all hopped on a plane, went to the mainland and spend the holidays with my wonderful Grandparents. I tell you, when you are cold for two weeks it is a novelty. The chill was fun while it lasted. I got to get some use out of my coat and boots and then I was ready to be back in my tropical paradise.

why choose this?

when you can have this??

Ask.

You.

So now that we've been back what have I been doing?

Well, the boys are back in their routine. They like it. I like it.

I decided to train for a half marathon. I never thought I would enjoy running. Who knew? Running has actually become an escape for me. I started last year with the Couch to 5K then after LT deployed I decided to push myself a little harder and try for the Couch 2 10k. I'm enjoying it so much I decided why not? Let's just shock 'em all and sign up for a Half Marathon. So here I am running multiple miles and working my way up to the 13.1 I have been changing my nutrition and adding supplements and have proudly lost all my baby weight.

(that I never lost from my first son. and he's almost 4.)

yikes.

But I feel incredible and have tons of energy that I never had before. LT has also lost weight and gained muscle. After 11 years of marriage he looks amazing.

I am still selling Scentsy and wow my house has never smelled better. That stuff is addictive I tell you! I also started selling with another DSA and am enjoying it so much. I want to share more but I currently have Scentsy up here and I can only promote one company I sell for on my page. I may switch it out soon though because the other company is awesome as well.

So there you have it.

I may not be on here so often but I will still check in, post occasionally and read my favorite mil-spouse blogs and others as well. I have recently become a fan of Pinterest.

Any other fans out there?

Well, Hello there!

2011-12-12T17:44:00.000-10:00

Although my sister may think otherwise, I have not given up on my blogging! So here I am!

What have I been doing in the meantime??

Well, LT (I really ought to come up with a better name for him) was deployed so I tried on my Supermom cape and attempted my best with no family here and living on an island. I think the cape fell off as soon as I put it on but the good news is, we made it through!

Healthy (no middle of the night trips to the E.R.)

Sane (but maybe a few gray hairs)

Happy!

because

he is home!

He made it home quite a bit ahead of schedule and we now get to spend Christmas together. It's going to continue to be a little crazy as he reintegrates back into his job. We are flying to the west coast for the holidays and I'm busy this week with the boys last week of pre-school, finishing shopping, baking and making homemade tamales (a family tradition) for our Christmas party this weekend.

I'm not giving up on you little blog!

Hello, Patio!

2011-09-16T12:47:00.000-10:00

I really can't get this song out of my head.

I've been on a Mad Men marathon watching an episode or two from Netflix after the boys go to bed. I watched this episode the other night where they are trying to recreate Ann-Margret's "Bye, Bye, Birdie" song but the girl is singing about Pepsi's new diet drink Patio. Needless to say in the episode the Pepsi people didn't care for the ad. But it's too late. It's stuck in my head now!

So, why keep a good thing to yourself?

Here is the original because all the Mad Men versions I found on youtube wouldn't let me embed.

(Just in case you haven't already seen it, I know this episode is old but it takes me awhile to watch shows!)

What's YOUR song?

2011-09-14T22:22:00.000-10:00

Has it been a week already? Wow, time sure flies when you're busy!

Link up with YOUR song by hopping over to Goodnight Moon.

I decided to pick Baby Mine sung by Alison Krauss.

I remember watching Dumbo when I was little and I would always get teary eyed when Dumbo's mom rocked him in her trunk when she was locked up. He looked so sad and tiny as he waved to his mom.

They were so mean to him! It always made me sad.

(Tell me I'm not the only one!)

Anyway, I love this song, it is so sweet and peaceful and it makes me think of my little boys. With LT away I can definitely have some challenging moments but boy I tell you, it doesn't take much for my heart to melt. We are blessed!

In the groove.

2011-09-13T18:33:00.000-10:00

So with LT gone I decided to pursue a few goals. Is fitness or weight loss a popular goal for most mil-spouses while their loved one is deployed? It seems logical to me, I want LT to look at me and say "wow!" when he gets off the plane. But more than that, I want to be strong and full of energy (don't we all need energy!?) So one of my big goals in these next few months is to train for a 10k.

Some of you might recall a few of my posts about Couch to 5k. Such a great program if you have little or no experience in running and/or not in shape. It starts out super slow and at the end you have worked up to a full 5k without stopping. I gave it a go last year, about a few months after little baby was born. It was a major confidence boost for me and gave me a new outlook on running.

After I finished that I decided to get involved with my local Stroller Strides (fabulous by the way, check it out and see if there is one in your area). When we moved to where we are now I quit because it was quite a drive.

SO

Here I am, LT is gone and the boys are back in their routine so now it's time to think of me. I wanted to push myself a little harder so I decided to start the couch to 10k. Today was day one. I did it and I feel good. I am excited to see how it goes. Wish me luck! Here was my view from my running trail today.

Pretty nice!

Remember

2011-09-11T07:40:00.000-10:00

I'm sure most of us vividly remember what we were doing 10 years ago today. And what was going through our minds as we read the news and watched the live coverage.

Shock.

Disbelief.

Fear.

I don't think we will ever erase September 11th from our memories nor should we.

Today I remember all the victims who lost their lives on this terrible day.

I continue to pray and give thanks for those who are serving our country choosing to put their lives in harm's way.

What's Your Song? Link up week 29

2011-09-07T20:28:00.000-10:00

I know, it's been a quite awhile since I've been a part of this link up over at Goodnight Moon but I thought I'd join in anyway.

LT received some very sad news today. I wish I could reach my arms all the way to the sand box so I could give him a big hug and let him know how much I love him and miss him.

This song is a classic.

It's Aloha Friday: Missing my husband edition

2011-09-02T07:13:00.000-10:00

I don't think LT realized there was a mutant frog behind him.

So far, this deployment has been ok. Granted, LT hasn't been gone that long but the boys and I are getting into our routine after coming back from visiting family on the mainland, and let me tell you- it is good to have a routine with a 1 year old and a 3 year old!

It helps that Little Bear has preschool several days a week. That boy sure loves his school! I just started selling Scentsy and for me, it's pretty fun and is giving me something to do. (Not that I was bored or anything- taking care of two small boys is hard work!)

So in the meantime I shall keep my Skype open and waiting for whenever LT logs in. It's so exciting for the boys to be able to see their dad. Little Baby doesn't understand but Little Bear tells me that his daddy "is far, far away" and I know he misses him a lot. He is definitely his dad's shadow and they have a pretty special bond. I am grateful for technology, that's for sure. I wish they could talk to him every day!

I've got some ideas and projects in the works I want to accomplish while LT's away so we'll see how it goes. I'm missing him a lot but so far I feel like we've been so busy around here that I haven't had time to get too mopey so I guess that's a good thing - I got to keep it together for my boys! - I can't just get in my car and drive to my parents when it starts getting too hard. (although sometimes I really wish I could except they live literally half way across the world and logistics make it a little tough) - a challenge and reality of living a military life.

Happy Aloha Friday!

The true financial costs of military service.

2011-08-19T10:07:00.001-10:00

I came across this note posted by a another military spouse in a local military wives forum I frequent.

Some of you may be aware of the military retirement proposals that will bring huge, sweeping changes to the system most of our military spouses believed they were signing up under. I found it very well written and definitely something to think about. I know with LT's 10 year mark coming up soon we have already been discussing the pros and cons on whether it's worth the long haul to 20 before we ever heard about these reforms. These proposed changes have definintely made us realize that nothing is ever "guaranteed".

Thoughts?

Aloha oe

2011-08-18T05:56:00.000-10:00

My boys and I made it back to the islands in one piece. I was so completely dreading the trip back after having such a stressful experience getting there. This time was completely different.

We flew Alaska Air back to Honolulu. From the beginning they were amazing, and helpful and kind. We flew on a smaller plane and amazingly had an empty seat next to us so I was able to lay little baby down and he slept for a few hours. the flight attendants were nice (it seemed even more so to those who were traveling with small children) and seemed happy to be at work. They even had prize giveaways and a special aloha service were they passed out free Mai tais. (yes, please). I flew United out to the mainland and it's like comparing apples and oranges. I don't know if it's just me but the flight attendants there seem less happy to be working and act like everything is more of an inconvenience. Maybe because their planes are larger and there are more people to serve but I was so impressed with Alaska I am planning on writing a thank you letter and flying with them again.

(they even had a good size changing table in the bathroom!)

Back in the game....

2011-08-13T06:50:00.000-10:00

I have been pretty sporadic this summer ( ok, basically non existent). The boys and I said our sad goodbye to LT as we sent him off to the land of sand to do what he's been trained to do.

It stinks.

So. I packed up the boys, hopped on a plane (that was a miserable experience and I'm trying to forget it) and we are currently visiting family in beautiful Oregon. I thought I couldn't live anywhere but Hawaii and be happy but after these last few weeks in this gorgeous place, I think I may be changing my mind.....

I also decided to sell Scentsy! I'm pretty excited since anything that makes my house smell good is fantastic. Check out my online Scentsy store. Many scents will be discontinued soon so stock up while you can ( and they are on sale!).

So in the meantime I am planning on hanging out with my family, be outside with my boys as much as possible and enjoy all the coffee I can drink from Dutch Bros. And maybe go to Target again ('cause you know they charge more for their things in Hawaii). I will have to post pictures later because right now I'm typing with two fingers on my iPad and can't figure out the picture posting option. (any helpful tips?)

Aloha!

It's been a while.

2011-06-22T07:51:00.002-10:00

Can it be a month already since my last post?! All I can say is time has been flying over here in our household. We've been pretty busy.

Little Bear finished his pre-school for the year.

He will miss his teacher. She was great!

We also did a little sightseeing.

I love this part of the island.

It is gorgeous. Although it was a little toasty and humid that day.

Played a few games on our lanai.

Canasta, anyone?

And the boys and I surprised LT at work with some tasty birthday cupcakes, balloons and presents. We celebrated his birthday a little early since he went TDY shortly after.

And the fun just keeps on going! We have had some friends come out to visit. Family is coming out soon. The boys will be celebrating their 1st and 3rd birthdays. LT is getting prepared for his upcoming deployment.

And.

We are moving. To a different part of the island Yes, because we like to cram as much stuff into our schedules as we can. Actually the timing was pretty unexpected but we are 90% sure we are still going to go through with it. So hopefully at the end of this moving and packing and visiting we will still have a few non-gray hairs left on our head.

I think I need to book a day at the spa after LT leaves.

Mil Spouse Weekly Round Up

2011-05-20T08:08:00.001-10:00

I'm a bit of a grump this morning.

I guess having a unexpected and sudden root canal done yesterday will do that to you (I don't recommend it). Add to the mix a ~~big fat, fight~~ some miscommunication issues with LT early this morning and I'm about ready to call it a day and it's barely 8 a.m.

But the good news is

a) it's aloha Friday

and

b) it's time for Mil Spouse Weekly Round Up hosted by The Adventures of Mr. Superman and Mrs. S. Let's hope the rest of today and this weekend turns out better!

Oh, the people you see....

2011-05-17T14:32:00.000-10:00

LT and I packed up the boys and headed up to Schofield Barracks late yesterday afternoon for a little commissary time. I don't know what it is about Schofield, but it may just be one of the best places to people watch.

I'm serious.

I told LT, I could just sit outside the PX on a bench and pass a good hour just observing people coming and going.

I have many fond memories of Schofield and even though it's really not that far from where I live, it's not often I go up there. A lot has changed (construction and housing-wise) since I first lived there with my parents in the 90's. It's where I met LT for the first time- it was 1999 and I was working at the PX in the Dive Shop (there isn't one there anymore). I remember spending my spring break at Area X when I was a junior in high school with a million JROTC cadets. Yes, I was one of those =). Schofield was also the place where LT proposed to me. I must be getting old, reminiscing like this.....

Anyway, total change of subject....

Tomorrow morning is the last MOPS meeting for the year. I can't believe how fast the year has gone by! Everyone is supposed to be bringing food to share and I deleted the e-mail and can't find it with what is still needed (oops!). So I am going to bring something brunch-ish. Whenever I bring food I try to bring fruit or something that doesn't need to be hot. I have to leave my house extra early to get Little Bear to pre-school on time so I don't want to bring something hot only to taste gross later.

I found a recipe from Betty Crocker (good, ol' Betty) for a Strawberry Cream Brunch Cake. Sounds good, right? I haven't made it before but it looks pretty simple and has good reviews so I'll give it a try. Here's the recipe for you!

{not mine}

Strawberry Cream Brunch Cake

Cream Cheese Filling

package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened

1/4

cup sugar

tablespoons all-purpose flour

large egg

Cake

2 1/4

cups all-purpose flour

3/4

cup sugar

3/4

cup cold butter or margarine

1/2

teaspoon baking powder

1/2

teaspoon baking soda

1/4

teaspoon salt

3/4

cup sour cream

teaspoon almond extract

large egg

1/2

cup strawberry or raspberry preserves

1/2

cup sliced almonds

Heat oven to 350°F. Grease bottom and side of 10-inch springform pan or 11x7-inch (2-quart) glass baking dish with shortening; lightly flour.
In small bowl, mix filling ingredients until smooth; set aside.
In large bowl, mix 2 1/4 cups flour and 3/4 cup sugar. Cut in butter, using pastry blender (or pulling 2 table knives through mixture in opposite directions), until mixture looks like coarse crumbs. Reserve 1 cup of the crumb mixture. Stir baking powder, baking soda, salt, sour cream, almond extract and egg into remaining crumb mixture. Spread batter over bottom and 2 inches up side (about 1/4 inch thick) of pan.
Pour filling over batter. Carefully spoon preserves evenly over filling. Mix almonds and reserved crumb mixture; sprinkle over preserves.
Bake springform pan 50 to 60 minutes, 11x7-inch dish 35 to 45 minutes, or until filling is set and crust is deep golden brown. Cool 15 minutes; remove side of springform pan. Serve warm if desired. Store covered in refrigerator.

Makes 16 servings

p.s...

2011-05-13T19:03:00.000-10:00

It's also Mil Spouse Weekly Round up! (which is hosted this week by Keeping up with the Bowens). Check it out!

I know I'm posting this a little late here on Friday. Boy, I don't know about you but I've had a long day with two cranky boys. Here's opening for a peaceful weekend!

Mil Spouse Friday Fill In #40

2011-05-13T09:27:00.000-10:00

It's aloha Friday and I'm not sure what happened to the glorious perfect weather! It's back to cloudy skies but maybe that's good because today I plan to be out in the yard. My plants are looking a little sad and pathetic and I need to do some weeding in the meager "flower" beds I have out front.

I hope you are having a wonderful Friday!

It's time for Mil Spouse Friday Fill In. Hop over to Wife of a Sailor to join in!

1. Which was the best day of your life- Wedding day or Homecoming day?submitted by Pink Champagne, Gatorade & MREs

I can't fully answer this question...yet.

2. Were you a part of the joining the military question or did you sign up for the relationship when your man was already in the military? submitted by Cammo Style Love

I met LT while he was already in the Army. I never thought or expected to date someone in the military but obviously that plan went out the door! I was however, part of his plan for going Green to Gold. I'm glad he did because it really was a great opportunity for him.

3. What is your favorite Disney movie and why? submitted by Raising Roscoe

When I was younger it was Cinderella. I remember getting the video for my 7th or 8th birthday and watching it over and over and over. Then it was the Little Mermaid and then Beauty and the Beast. I liked them because they were fun and had a princess involved. Now, I don't really have one anymore.

4. What is your favorite family activity to do on the weekends? submitted by Destination: RN!

I really enjoy spending time with my family out of the house. I love to do things that my boys would enjoy whether that be going on a bike ride, playing at the beach, visiting the aquarium or throwing rocks in the water. My next plan is for us to all go on a hike together.

5. Where do you secretly wish you could be stationed with you/your SO’s line of work (realistically speaking, not everyone can be stationed on NAS Fiji)? submitted by Wookie & Co.

I would really like to go to Italy or Germany or Belgium (!) just to experience something different. I love Hawaii but it's also fun to experience different cultures and I really enjoy traveling. I know we would have so much fun!

What a good girl.

2011-05-12T07:19:00.000-10:00

Our dog, that is.

This morning has been chaos. And it's barely 7 a.m.

Little baby woke up way to early and was grumpy no matter what. I nursed him, held him, put him down, picked him up. Nothing was making him happy. Little Bear woke up shortly after and kept running from the kitchen to the living room. He was doing a dance on the carpet with a big smile on his face and then ran back to the kitchen. Since it was barely 6 a.m. and half of my brain was working it took me awhile to realize he was running to the kitchen to get brownies that were on the stove from the other night. He didn't like that I caught on and ended his fun. at all.

LT came home from work and helped feed baby while I made everyone pancakes. I could tell it just may be one of those days so I took a quick time out, grabbed Lulu and took her on a short walk down the street. She is a good girl. I realize she just may be the best behaved one out of all of us in the house. She may be naughty if she runs out the door with out her leash but generally she is a good girl. She doesn't whine, complain, throw fits and she is always happy to see you.

I think she helps me keep sane.

Now, where's the coffee?

Just another gorgeous day....

2011-05-11T12:37:00.000-10:00

and I shall never get sick of them! Ever.

It's been raining, overcast, humid and drizzly the past week but today the sun is shining and there is a lovely breeze coming off the ocean. I love it!

Things have been a little crazy lately.

LT has got his official orders to deploy. With his line of work he is deploying not with a unit here but some unit on the mainland. I don't really know what that mean in terms of me ever getting information while he's gone from an FRG or whatever they use but I guess I'll find out one way or another.

So now that we know the when of his deployment we are making plans and checklists. Family is coming out to visit, Little Bear will be done with pre-school for this year soon, LT is going TDY before he deploys, we have to plan both boys upcoming birthday's.... I think we are going to end up cramming a lot of things in a short period of time. I just hope we will be able to fit some good family time in there. deep breaths.......... This will be our first deployment so I have no idea what to expect.

In other news.

(which is kind of a big deal for Hawaii)

I went to the very first Bath and Body Works store here in Hawaii today!

It just recently opened (like last week). When stores like this open you can pretty much guarantee big crowds. When the first Victoria Secret opened here a while back lines were way, way, way out the door (we do live on an island so when things like this happen people get excited!). The exchanges here already sell B&BW products here but it is more like their basic scents and soaps. I am a big fan of their room sprays, oils and oil warmers. I like to stock up when they are having sales and I'm usually burning one in my house at all times. I also like this:

The Tahiti Sweetie lotion from their True Blue spa line. I first tried it when my mother- in- law gave me a little Easter basket filled with travel sized items from Bath and Body last year. I loved the fresh tropical scent and it moisturized well without feeling greasy. Needless to say I used it up quick! I've been wanting to get the full size so today was my lucky day. Next time you go into Bath and Body, try it out and tell me what you think!

You say Goodbye, I say Hello

2011-04-27T21:37:00.000-10:00

It's What's Your Song? link up over at Goodnight Moon.

I thought I would share Hello Goodbye by the Beetles today.

Little Bear has been struggling with a speech delay. He has been in speech therapy which has been helping but what he really enjoys (and what helps him to say more that 3 words in a row) is singing songs.

The other day the boys and I were out on the lanai playing trains and I started singing Hello Goodbye to them. Little Bear caught on right away because it's such an easy, repetitive song to sing and we had a lovely time singing our ~~slightly off key~~ duet. Just thinking of it makes me smile.

Enjoy!

I just can't get you out of my head....

2011-04-26T13:27:00.000-10:00

Currently Little Bear has been fixated on one song.

And pretty much one song only.

He loves listening to Veggietales, and he loves The Hairbrush Song.

Like he can't get enough of it. Over and over and over again, Car rides can get pretty long whenever we are going somewhere.

The other day while Little Bear was playing trains in his room I heard this little voice, "I'm sorry, I didn't know....I gave it to the peach, 'cause he's got hair."

Oh boy, I know this won't last forever but I hear that song in my head when I'm trying to sleep, when I'm cleaning the house, when I'm changing diapers, when I'm walking the dog....you get the idea.

So I shall share the song with you now. We can all sing it together!

Mil Spouse Friday Fill In

2011-04-22T12:28:00.001-10:00

I'm actually doing this on Friday and not a day late! If you want to join in hop over to Wife of a Sailor.

Happy Friday!

and

don't forget to enter my ***G*I*V*E*A*W*A*Y*!***

1. How many pets do you have? And what type? submitted by Life and Times of a Displaced Jersey Girl

We have one pet, an American Bulldog named Lulabelle. She is cute, sweet, very friendly and is always on the lookout for *stray* snacks that might have fallen from the boys hands! We adopted her from a no-kill animal shelter a few years ago when we lived in Maryland and we are so glad we did!

2. What are your favorite projects to do while hubby is away? submitted by my-inspired-nest

Well, the times my husband has been gone I've gotten a lot of cleaning and organizing accomplished. And that's a good thing!

3. What are the must-haves in your deployment care packages? submitted by Christine’s Little Blog

Good question! I know I will be finding out soon!

4. If you could star in any TV show, which would it be? submitted by Just a Girl

I would have liked to have been on the Young Riders when I was a kid. (does anyone even remember that show?!) It would be fun to be in an old west tv show. But I would also love, love, love to be on Amazing Race with my sister. That would be ridiculous amounts of fun!!

5. What was the biggest hurdle that you faced during your/your significant other’s first deployment? submitted by The Pavlik Perspective

I'll be finding out...

Mil Spouse Weekly Round Up

2011-04-22T06:39:00.001-10:00

Happy Aloha Friday!

I don't know about you, but this week flew by for me!

What are you doing today?

I've got at least one of my boys in hourly care at the CDC today so I can run some errands and purge through toys, and unused items in our house.

It's time for Mil Spouse Weekly Round Up,
hosted by Poekitten at Many Waters. So grab a cup of coffee, maybe a chocolate robin's egg (or two!) and catch up with your blogs today!

also,

Be sure to enter my
Voice Library $50 gift certificate giveaway!
You still have a few more days to enter!

Home is wherever I'm with you.

2011-04-21T18:40:00.001-10:00

I just can't help but smile when I hear this song.

Perhaps I need to dedicate it to LT and my two most favorite little boys in the world.

And it's a convenient thing, too.

Because it's What's Your Song? over at Goodnight Moon.

This is my first week doing this but if you want to hear even more favorite songs from other bloggers jump on over to Goodnight Moon.

Enjoy!

It's one of those days.

2011-04-19T16:10:00.000-10:00

I wrote a bit of a lengthy post and then deleted it. I'm just feeling a little frustrated with Army life in general- but what Army family hasn't at one time or the other? I'm sad at the lack of time our family gets to spend together due to the fact that LT works a wretched work schedule but I think my sadness and frustration is also compounded by the fact that soon he will be leaving on deployment.

Ok, mini rant over.

One thing that is making me smile right now is watching the baby army crawl his way around the floor in the living room in an effort to reach his older brother's toys. Sometimes Little Bear doesn't mind and other times he gets real worried! We are working on the concept of sharing right now.

Another thing that is making me smile is this:

{source}

I'm a big fan of these bags. I actually only own one- which is a small pink clutch. It's super cute but a little impractical when shopping with boys in tow. This bag will hold my stuff plus a diaper or two and a snack as well. I've been wanting one for years, and finally I'm going to order it. I'm not a big name purse fan. I usually use one until it dies but this one may just last forever. It's made out of seatbelts and is super durable and easy to clean. Now I need to order it!

The Voice Library and giveaway!

2011-04-18T12:54:00.003-10:00

Occasionally, I receive e-mails requesting me to share information or products with my readers. Considering that my blog is about my life as a mom and Army wife I want to make sure that if I share something it will be relevant to you! So I am excited to share with you The Voice Library.

The Voice Library is a website where you can record, store and share messages that can be accessed by whomever you want. It's a secure connection and can be accessed by computer and phone. Let me share with you the description given to me:

**************************************************************************************************************

For military families, this service can also facilitate communication between a deployed spouse or parent and the family at home. If your loved one is eight or ten time zones away, there may not be a good time to connect live with schedules and commitments for the people on each end. The service could also be used to keep in touch with friends or family stationed overseas.

The Voice Library gives you a place to record and store your messages to each other, somewhere safer than a voicemail inbox. Messages can be shared and retrieved online or by phone as often as you want and can be archived for as long as you need.

You can record or listen to audio clips using the phone or your computer microphone and speakers. You can also upload audio clips you may already be storing on your voicemail, in random computer folders or on old cassettes. The people you share your clips with can listen via phone or computer as well. Recordings stored in The Voice Library are completely secure and available 24/7/365.

With The Voice Library, you set up an account where you can record or upload audio clips, archive them, and share them with friends, family and other loved ones. Account holders purchase recording/listening time together with archival periods. Currently, a five-hour, five year card sells for $50. This card gives the account holder five hours to use our system to record, listen or share audio clips plus five years of storage time in The Voice Library. Recording, listening and storage time can be added to the account as needed.

To share your recordings, all you have to do is send the person with whom you’re sharing the dial-in phone number or our website address and a listener PIN. It's that easy!

************************************************************************************************************

LT will be deploying in the very near future and I know it will be comforting for the boys and I to be able to log in or call and hear his voice. The boys can listen to him read a bedtime story or just hear him say I love you. I love this idea that his voice can be accessible even when he is not.

The Voice Library has given me three $50 gift certificates to giveway! Are you interested?

(you can always gift it to someone you think can benefit from this as well)

To enter:

Visit The Voice Library and comment back here telling me what you think about this concept. (One entry)

Extra Entries:

* Become a follower on my blog and leave me a comment. (2 entries)

*Like The Voice Library's facebook page and leave me a comment. (2 entries)

* Blog or facebook about this post and leave me a comment with the link (4 entries)

The giveaway begins now and will end April 27, 2011.

Sunday Sickness

2011-04-17T12:43:00.000-10:00

The boys and I have been hanging around the house A LOT lately. I don't want to drag them to too many places until their virus starts clearing up. So in the meantime we are playing inside, playing outside and I'm doing lot's of cleaning and laundry! Always fun on a weekend......

LT came home from work this morning and I made him and the boys pancakes with this little pan:

Isn't it cute? I picked it up at the NEX the other week, it's made by Martha Stewart. The NEX here is huge and has a nice selection of her kitchen products. I always like to see what is new. It's a lot of fun to make and it comes out the perfect silver dollar size. I drop some blueberries on top (or in LT's case - chocolate chips) and voila! Breakfast is ready, and all the boys love them. Little baby ate three!

Did I mention...

2011-04-16T11:04:00.000-10:00

I will be hosting a ***Giveaway!*** I think you all will like it! More details to come on Monday so check back in!

and.....

It's also Mil Spouse Weekly Roundup! Thanks to Churchy and her Sailor for hosting this week!

Have a beautiful Saturday!

Mil Spouse Friday Fill In (A day late....again!)

2011-04-16T10:45:00.003-10:00

Two posts in two days! Could this mean I'm getting back on the blogging train? It's time for

Mil-Spouse Friday Fill In. Hop over to Wife of a Sailor to join in!

1. With PCS moves happening every few years, do you take the time to paint and decorate your home? submitted by Life as Mrs. JPT

Yes, (minus the painting) I like to make every home I live in a home. We already live such a transient lifestyle. I can't function leaving all of my things in a box waiting for the "next place" to unpack and decorate. It ends up being a lot of work but in the end it's worth it to me. I love coming home to our place of warmth and comfort.

2. If you could live in any home on a television series, what would it be? submitted by Standing By Him

Hmmmm.....good question. I don't watch a lot of tv so I can't really answer. I would love to live in a plantation Hawaiian style home though with a big, wrap around lanai.

This beauty will do!

(It's actually Oprah's Hawaii home on the island of Maui. I would love to take a tour through here!)

(source)

3. What inspired you to start your blog? submitted by Pink Combat Boots

I first started with two whole posts back in 2005 when I was still in college- I had just heard about blogs and was interested to see what it was all about, then I forgot all about it. I restarted in 2008 - a few months after Little Bear was born to write about a little about our lives and our lifestyle as a military family.

4. What is the weirdest thing you’ve ever seen on base? submitted byAdventures in Life

I wish I had something good and ridiculous to write but things appear pretty normal when I'm out and about!

5. Which historical figure (politician, writer, artist, scientist, actor, etc…) would you like to have dinner with? submitted by Army of Two

Robert Louis Stevenson (you may recognize him as the author of Treasure Island and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde). He led quite an interesting life and traveled to many places in the South Pacific including Hawaii, Tahiti, New Zealand and finally settled in Samoa where he died and his remains are still buried there today. I would love to sit at the dinner table with him, oh the stories I'm sure he could tell!

Blogging Slump

2011-04-15T07:59:00.001-10:00

I've been a bit sporadic about coming on here lately. Here's what's been going on around these parts.

~Little Bear has been busy in pre-school and surprised me with a lovely case of Hand, Foot and Mouth disease. Lovely. Apparently it's common amongst this age and the children in his class were exposed to it by someone else. (Usually how these things get started) He's happy though but I hope it goes away soon, it's pretty contagious.

~ LT went TDY for awhile. Not too long though. We were pretty busy around the house and on the island while he was gone so the time flew by pretty fast. I suddenly got very motivated while he was gone and tackled organizing the boys closets and finally storing the little Christmas trees that had been sitting in my room since, well.....Christmas. I know, I know...... Things have a way of becoming invisible the longer you leave them there.

~We got a call asking if we want to move on post (over a year later.....) Still deciding. We have already been here a year and we would have to move ourselves. The house is not fantastic or new by any means but it would cut down on commute time by a lot and it's in a convenient area. I'm trying to weigh the pros and cons. Moving is a flipping ton of work. (I know I'm just preaching to the choir!)

What would you do??

~I started Stoller Strides in my neighborhood. I like it a lot so far. It's hard to get a workout without wondering what to do with the boys. Stroller Strides solves my problem. I just strap them in the stroller along with snacks, a toy or two, drinks and sunscreen and off we go. Until Little Bear sees the playground......I try to run fast past that part until we are done working out. I have been very sore every time I'm done. It's good. And I get to meet other moms with little kids.

~I'm having issues with my macbook. It's been a really good computer and I've had it for 5 years now. My power cord is not charging the computer though, it's a recent thing. I'm hoping someone at the Apple Store can work their magic without it costing a ton. I love my mac.

Happy Aloha Friday!

Sunday thoughts

2011-04-03T09:06:00.000-10:00

Just some randomness that has been on my mind lately....

***Just wondering why there are so many designated parking spots at the commissary and PX/BX? I really don't mind walking, I usually try to park by where the shopping wagons are (which are usually in the middle of the lot) because it's easiest when I am shopping with the boys. But seriously, how many CSM's, Flag Generals, Yard of the Quarter winners, General officers, etc.. all go shopping at the same time?

***Do you ever check out other people's wagons shopping wagons when you are at the commissary? I was in the wrap- around line waiting to check out and thought it was interesting to see what people were buying. You can usually tell who has kids and who is probably single. =)

***For those of you who have little children.....are you noticing that they are waking up earlier because it's getting light earlier? Maybe it's just mine but Little Bear used to wake up at 7:00 a.m. Now, he is up around 5:30 and he opens his door, climbs in our bed and flops around, or rolls everywhere (like on my hair) or plays trains on our bed. It usually ends up waking little baby. Just wrong on so many levels. I can function much better if I can sleep until 6:30. I've got to figure out something. On the other hand, because he is getting up earlier he is taking better naps. What to do.....I really love my sleep...

Sometimes it's just nice...

2011-03-30T13:36:00.000-10:00

to have a live in nurse.

which would definitley not be me!

We've been battling sickness in our house for the last few weeks. It sure gets old coughing and blowing noses all the time. We are a pretty healthy family and LT and I rarely get sick. It all started with Little Bear whom I'm sure picked up his cold from school and then shared it with all of us.

I was at MOPS (Mother of Pre-schoolers) this morning with little baby who I could tell was coming down with a cold (again) and I noticed he started feeling warm. When we got home he had a 104 temperature. Being a mom, of course I start to get concerned (do I give him tylenol? Let him sleep? Call the doctor?) but I don't want to overreact either. I'm glad LT is so calm and collected and knows what to look for and when to be concerned because it helps keep me grounded. We gave baby some tylenol and let him rest and now he is rolling around on the ground playing with toys and blowing raspberries. I'm glad he's feeling better!

Mil Spouse Friday Fill In (A day late!)

2011-03-26T07:06:00.000-10:00

I don't know what the deal is but I feel like I've been in a blogging slump lately. Maybe it's because I've been a little preoccupied with trying to get a space-a flight and also dealing with some personal family things. But, here I am for Friday's fill in (albeit- a little late!)

Hop over to Wife of a Sailor to join in!

1. What is your must have gadget?

My phone. I always make sure it is with me when I go out. I always think the day I forget my phone is the day my car will break down on the side of the road or magically run out of gas with me and my children who are screaming because I forgot to feed them and they need a diaper change and I forgot their diaper bag and then I'm at the mercy of kind strangers passing by. Yeah, I try to be prepared.

2.How does your adulthood compare to what you imagined it would be like when you were a little kid?

I wanted to be an archaeologist when I was a kid and I feel like I'm half way there. I didn't sit around much and day dream about being an adult, I think I was having to much fun. Although, from time to time I did want to be older so I could do whatever I wanted and stay up late. Now I go to bed by 10. A real night owl.

3.What is your favorite chocolate recipe?

Chocolate Oatmeal cake. I don't make it very often at all because it is so good and moist and delicious that it doesn't last long. It's a recipe from my mom who got it from her mom.

4.How do you deal with military life when it gets to be to much or too hard?

I don't feel like it has gotten to that point with us yet. One frustration I have is having small children and having all of our extended family scattered all over the place. It sucks because they miss out on seeing my little boys grow and forming close relationships. We live this lifestyle (although I think it is hard for our non-military family to fully understand) and we chose it but it can get frustrating at times. I usually either keep it to myself or chat with other military wives who are friends.

5.What piece of advice would you give a new Military spouse facing their first deployment?

Well, we will be facing our first one very soon so I think I will have to check out everyone else's advice!

Have a beautiful weekend!

Book Review: Those Who Dare

2011-03-21T13:28:00.000-10:00

If you've ever been interested in WWII fiction then Those Who Dare is a book for you. Meet Lieutenant Randal, an American soldier who is leading a British special forces raiding company after the German panzer divisions begin to relentlessly invade Europe.

Those Who Dare- written by Phil Ward is a meticulously researched novel full of historical facts and technical detail. This book is full of action and develops at a pretty brisk pace. I learned more about parachute landing then I thought possible but I would rather read a book full of accurate details and facts than a book which glosses over it.

Those Who Dare is the first book in a series and the second will pick up where the first one left off. Initially, I asked my husband to read the book. I thought he might enjoy it more judging by it's military content but with his busy schedule I figured it would take him awhile to read it. I wasn't sure if it could capture my interest but I was surprised to find myself quite engrossed in it. If reading about small arms practice, raiding missions and learning how to correctly land in a parachute isn't exactly your thing there is also a side romance and drama going on between Randal and Lady Jane Seaborn that will snag your interest. This was a great read and I recommend it.

*I was asked to do this review and was sent this book. The review and my opinion is all my own.*

Mil Spouse Friday Fill In

2011-03-18T10:17:00.000-10:00

Boy, it's been awhile since I've done one of these. However, little baby is taking a nap and little bear is playing with trains so I've got a few minutes! Hop on over to Wife of A Sailor to join in!

1. What are some of your ideas for staying connected with family…you know, those people we moved thousands of miles away from? submitted by Live it. Love it (or not). Write About It

Facebook is great for sharing pictures of my boys with their grandma's. I also call my family pretty frequently on the phone. I know some of my family also reads this blog so even though they probably already heard some of my stories, they get to hear about it again!

2. What’s the most romantic gift you have GIVEN? submitted by Painting My Canvas

Well, probably my husband's wedding ring. He's gone through several though. The first one I bought for him when I was on a mission trip, we had gotten engaged before I left and I was living in Poland and saw the ring. I had it sized and engraved with a meaningful bible verse and I thought it was really nice especially since I had a very limited budget. Shortly after we got married we went to the beach, he went body boarding- took it off before he went in the water and didn't tell me. When he went to look for it, it was gone. I was pretty upset. The end.

And then...about two years later I picked out a really beautiful, Hawaiian style wedding ring for him. I had it put on layaway so he wouldn't know about it and had it engraved. Again. I surprised him that Christmas. He had it stolen this time. I guess he was at Tripler doing clinicals, went to the restroom, took off his ring to wash his hands. He forgot about it and left the restroom, apparently a few minutes later he remembered about it, ran back and it was already gone.

Needless to say, I was done buying him wedding rings. He bought himself a $20 ring about 6 years ago and still has it.

Go figure.

3. Would you encourage your child, if they came to you and wanted to join the military? submitted by Perfectly Imperfect

Definitely. I used to think that I would force my children to go to college first, but honestly I don't think college is for everyone. I think it is really important to have and learn a skill whether that be in college, trade school or military. If my child wanted to join the military I would encourage him, but I would also make sure he knew why he wanted to join. I think it is a noble and worthwhile profession and encourages leadership and discipline and a sense of duty to our country.

4. What is your least favorite bill to pay and why? submitted by A Little of This, A Little of That

All of them.

5. What is the proudest moment you’ve had as a military spouse? submitted by Our Okinawa Life

When my husband was commissioned as a 2 LT in the U.S. Army, shortly after graduating from college several years ago. He was prior enlisted and went Green to Gold literally days before Sept. 11. It was a long, hard road for both him and I during those years. I was proud to have been with him though that journey and to see him get his rank pinned on and look forward to our future.

In need of a little tastiness

2011-03-15T17:43:00.000-10:00

I'm not a big fan of cooking but seeing as how we have to eat every day and I don't like to eat out a lot I guess I can't escape it! I like to find easy things to make because usually LT isn't home when I'm cooking dinner and it can get a little crazy in the kitchen. As in trying to juggle making something for him and I, feeding little baby who will scream as high as he can if I am a second too late in putting food in his mouth and trying to not trip over the dog or Little Bear who thinks it is a great idea to lay in the middle of the kitchen floor - all at the same time.

Yeah, I'm tired just reading that sentence.

I came across a recipe for Bok Choy noodle soup in my Weight Watchers cookbook and it was so easy and quick to make that I was skeptical at first. But it turned out fantastic, is only 3 points and LT, Little Bear and I all ate it and liked it. It is a little similar to Vietnamese Pho- which I am a huge fan of. I will definitely be making it again!

It's aloha Saturday.

2011-03-12T20:47:00.001-10:00

Because I am still here. Remember when I said there was a flight today that I had a good chance of getting on?

Yep. I spoke too soon.

We were at the terminal ready to go and waiting for our name to get called. Names were starting to get called for the available seat and then suddenly one of the airmen said, sorry we got more cargo to put on the plane, therefore no more seats. When you fly Space A, it's always mission first and then if there is room leftover passengers can hop on.

SO, I said to LT, let's just wait a little longer because who knows - things could change again. And an hour later, sure enough there was 22 seats open. I got excited at first, but when you fly Space A you are assigned a category and where ever you are on the roll call list is based on the day you sign up and the category you fall under.

Basically, I am one step ahead of the retirees.

And the retirees are the last folks on a long list to get called up for a seat.

So, we didn't get on. It's ok, though. I expect delays with Space A and even though I haven't gotten on the flight to where I'm trying to get- (yet!) I still think it's worth it. If you are military or a spouse of military it's really worth checking out. Everyone should at least experience it once!

Tsunami scare

2011-03-11T15:03:00.002-10:00

What a night!

I am one of those residents who live in a tsunami evacuation zone. LT was at work all night and I was watching a movie with the boys sound asleep when I checked my facebook and my friend from New Zealand posted on my wall to tell me she hoped I was safe. I wasn't sure why she wrote that so I checked our news and heard about the earthquake in Japan. Shortly after turning on the TV we got the alert that everyone in the evacuation zone had to leave, NO exemptions. It was a little nerve racking. We live super close to the water and all I could think of everything I needed to bring for my boys. No one knew what to expect and I kept seeing the terrible images of the tsunami hitting Japan. I had to go wake up my neighbors who were already in bed to let them know they needed to leave. I started packing up the car, full of food, baby food, every single diaper in the house and all my Costco wipes. I had no idea how the tsunami was going to turn out so I figured better safe than sorry. My pastor came over around 11 and helped me load up the car, grab the dog and the boys and we headed over to their house. Meanwhile LT was at work and not able to get off. I wasn't too anxious about that, I would have rather had him with me but I knew he was needed where he was and we were very safe at our friends house.

When I locked the door before I left last night I wondered if our house would be washed away by a surge of water. It was truly a surreal feeling.

So, as most of you know the tsunami that hit here wasn't as large as expected. There is definitely some damaged sustained but it is a huge relief and blessing that Hawaii was spared. LT came to our pastors house early this morning from work and shortly after the all clear was sounded.

We came back to a fully intact home.

I have seen the devastation that has taken place in Japan.

Please keep them in your hearts and prayers.

And you'd think I'd be there already......

2011-03-09T20:55:00.000-10:00

In my last post I wrote that I (and my two muchkins) were going to be trying our luck at a Space A. Since then, we have made it on exactly:

flights.

But the good thing is my suitcase is packed and ready to go! and has been for almost two weeks now... There is another flight coming up very soon and I think (well, as long as it doesn't get canceled) we will have a very good chance of making it. So I shall be crossing my fingers, loading up the car, buckling in the children and sitting at the Space A terminal with plenty of time to spare, hoping that our name will be called with seats available.

In the meantime I shall be enjoying spending time with my family and the beautiful land of aloha!

~on a totally unrelated note, what do you think about American Idol?

I am really enjoying it this season (and am currently watching it as I'm typing), there are a lot of talented contestants and so far I have several favorites. Who are yours?

M.I.A. for a little while. Or maybe not.

2011-02-28T22:22:00.001-10:00

You see, I'm trying to take a Space A. So if you've ever had the privilege or chance to do so then you know the nature of getting a flight. Fortunately, I have a pretty open schedule so I just keep checking the Space A terminal to see what flights are going out and how many seats are available. If you can get a flight and it goes to where you want to go (or close to it) it's a very interesting experience to say the least. LT and I have taken a few in the past couple of years. We have been on C-17's, C-5's, have sat on regular airline seats, fold down seats and web-netting seats (and have managed to strap a car seat on it!). We've flown on a KC-10 and been a part of a refueling mission. We once flew on a medical transport which was quite sobering to see injured soldiers coming back to the U.S. from Germany after being wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan. I've even got to fly in the cockpit during take off out of Andrews AFB, MD- something you can't do on a commercial flight! One thing I do like is that most of the flights are really loud. The crew always hands out earplugs. It is perfect for those with small children because if they cry or fuss no one can hear it!

If I can catch a flight I probably won't be posting on here for awhile. I'm leaving my laptop at home. I've got too much child gear I have to haul so the computer is staying. Wish me luck!!

Ignorance and rudeness begets more of the same.

2011-02-23T15:25:00.000-10:00

{source}

Perhaps you have seen this article .

Ugh. I am sickened at some students behavior towards an injured veteran who was trying to make a point at a DEBATE. Incredibly rude, I'm not sure what the students who chose to engage in such insulting, disgusting behavior were hoping to gain at a DEBATE by jeering and booing except making themselves look like complete fools and jack asses.

That is all.

Mil Spouse Weekly Round Up #30

2011-02-18T06:42:00.000-10:00

Good morning! It is quite an early morning for me. Little Bear crawled in my bed way before 5 a.m. and Little Baby has been teething badly the last few days and has wakened way too many times! I need some coffee......

But first it's time for Mil Spouse Weekly Round Up hosted by Wife of a Sailor.

1. What is your favorite Mil-Spouse blog?

I enjoy reading Misadventures of an Army wife. She has a great sense of humor and a nice touch of sarcasm for good measure! I am also enjoying Army of Two. Natalia is a super smart girl and we share a lot of the same interests. It would be fun to meet up one day!

2. What are your favorite perks about your s/o being deployed (we all know there are perks)?

LT will be going on his first deployment in the near future so I have no experience with that yet, however when he was TDY for several months last year I was able to be part of the Army Family Covenant where a certain amount of childcare was available. That was a lifesaver for me especially as I was pregnant and organizing a PCS alone. I really appreciated that.

3. How long did you date your before getting engaged? Married?

LT and I dated for about 5 months. It felt like a whirlwind at the time though, when we were dating (Pre- 9/11) he was in the infantry and was always out in and out of the field for training. After we got engaged I went on a mission trip for 6 months, came home and married him almost exactly a year after we started dating.

4. What do you think your would do if s/he wasn’t in the military?

I think he would probably be doing what he does now in the health care field. Or......if he could make a good living out of it he would like to fish his days away off a beach somewhere in Central America...

5. If you could talk to the Secretary of (fill in your appropriate branch) what is one suggestion you would like to bring to their attention in order to improve the lives of military families?

I would like to see more being done (not just being given lip service) about increasing dwell time between deployments. It is a hard thing to see children who have more memories of their dad or mom being gone, or getting ready to deploy then actually being home. Also, the stigma of a soldier or service member seeking out mental health care. There are resources for those that need it but the fear of a paper trail and it being seen negatively towards their career holds many back from seeking out help.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-02-16T15:20:00.000-10:00

Note to self....

2011-02-15T18:48:00.001-10:00

Avoid the PX and/ or commissary when it is lunch time and payday! I drove onto Schofield Barracks today and was wondering why there was hardly a parking spot to be found. Hello! I had some time to spare before heading over to the offices of MWR (Morale Welfare and Recreation) so I thought I would meander around the PX. A while ago I volunteered to be a secret shopper and did my "mystery shop" at an Army library . I was asked to come back to the MWR offices to have a de-brief about my experience. It was interesting to be able to be a mystery shopper. At first I was wondering if the librarians could guess why I was there but I had brought Little Bear with me and he started throwing a fit so I'm sure it threw off the scent and I'm happy to say the service I received was professional from the workers!

Mil Spouse Weekly Round Up

2011-02-11T08:45:00.000-10:00

It's aloha Friday and wouldn't you like to catch up on blog reads today? Hop on over to Lowe Family News to link up! As for me, I just poured a cup of coffee, and surprisingly, amazingly, miraculously both of my boys are back in bed after waking up way tooooooo early. I'm taking advantage of this little moment!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-02-09T14:18:00.000-10:00

Little Baby.

today.

The Irresistibly Sweet Blog Award

2011-02-08T18:58:00.000-10:00

Thank you to A Military Wife's Mayhem who sent me this lovely award.

So, here are the rules:

1. Thank the person who have you the award and link back to them in you post.
2. Tell us 7 things about yourself
3. Award 15 recently discovered new bloggers
4. Contact these bloggers and let them know they've received the award

Not too hard, right? I think I can accomplish this while Little Bear crawls all over me asking me to turn on Dora, over and over and over (there's something to be said for persistence I think)..... Ok, here are my seven things:

1. I love to drink coffee. I made it through 4 1/2 years going to college full time while working 30 plus hours and never drinking coffee. Suddenly after having our first child I realized I can't function without it.

2. I absolutely can not eat on a yellow plate. It just makes food look unappetizing to me.

3. I used to surf all the time. I even made a homemade surf movie featuring all my fellow surfer friends a few years ago.. Since moving back to Hawaii I have not surfed once. What the heck is my problem?

4. I love to read. I usually try to sneak a few pages before I go to bed because a.) it relaxes me and b.) it's one of the few moments of the day where it is peaceful and I don't have little children in need of me.

5. While having personal time is fabulous (and needed every once in awhile!) I really like to have family days. I am so grateful that we get to live in Hawaii again and I want my boys to see and experience the places that LT and I have enjoyed over the years.

6. I love history and archaeology. I volunteered in an archaeological lab in Maryland before we moved here and actually thought re-labeling and cataloging arrowheads and a zillion potsherds was interesting.

7. I really like to chew and snap gum. Stride spearmint to be specific. I always have lot's of packs I keep in a drawer in the kitchen so I never run out. I know my snapping is probably obnoxious but it's so fun and it doesn't bother LT! I know because I've asked him several times....

So there you have it!

My top 15...ok I didn't put 15. It just seemed like a lot!

Natalia @ Army of Two
Nina @ Adventures of a Lifetime
Beckie @Turn for the nurse
Moldy Cannoli @ The Moldy Cannoli
The girl @ A Coastie's Girl
Maranda @ My Camo Colored Life
A Humble Planter @ Planting Shade

Time to curl up and watch a good movie!

2011-02-07T20:28:00.001-10:00

It's not exactly winter blizzard weather here, but it has been quite rainy, cool and windy the last couple of days. I thought a lovely corn, potato and bacon chowder sounded like a good dinner. LT must have liked it because he had two bowls. I tried a new recipe from my Weight Watchers New Complete Cookbook (it actually has some really good, easy to make things in there) and it was only 7 points!

So to top off my evening I think a nice girl movie would be in order. I'm sure LT would disagree since he is here with me but here are a few of my favorites that I never get sick of:

Colin Firth is the best Mr. Darcy in my opinion, hands down! This movie is the reason why I still own a VCR (remember those?!). I got the box set of this movie about 10 years ago and have watched it over and over and over. LT doesn't understand why we have been hanging on to our relic of a VCR but I just calmly explain that I can't get rid of it! I guess I could get the DVD's......but there is something fun about watching the videos and not being able to go to sleep or get anything done until I have watched all of them.

I don't even know how I stumbled across this one several years ago but after watching it once, I knew I had to buy it. It's the Indian/ Bollywood take on the classic movie. The Bennets (Bakshi in this film) are Indian and Mr. Darcy is a wealthy American who arrives in India with his British-Indian friend Balraj (Mr. Bingley) to attend a wedding. This is how Darcy and Balraj meet the Bakshi family and it goes on from there. This is such a fun and entertaining movie, with lot's of dancing and singing. Put it in your Netflix queue!

I always thought it would be fun to experience living during the time period in which Jane Austen's works are set. For those that think like me then this movie is for you! I actually found this on Netflix. Amanda Price is the main character who lives in present day, has a lame and crude boyfriend and who reads Pride and Prejudice and laments over the lack of true gentlemen. Somehow she magically transports into the Bennets household right in the middle of the story (through her bathroom wall-I know, strange!). It's funny to see how she thinks she knows how everything will turn out as and tries to warn the family about Mr. Collins and Mr. Wickham. I thought I knew how it would end up but I was surprised by the twists and turns throughout the film. I think it was actually a mini series on BBC but it makes a good movie.

These are just a few of my movies I enjoy.

What do you like or recommend?

Mango Baby.

2011-02-05T21:45:00.000-10:00

Little baby really wishes his teeth would come in already. In the meantime, he will be gumming on mango slices because they are so tasty!

Just another beautiful day...

2011-02-03T10:41:00.000-10:00

I know it sounds a little boastful but I feel so happy to not be experiencing the blizzards on the mainland. Trust me, I've been there and done that (last year, while pregnant, husband gone with only a garden shovel) and I am grateful to be in shorts and slippers and knowing the only thing I have to dig is a sand castle with Little Bear!

The other day LT and I drove the boys up to Dole Pineapple Plantation. It's a major tourist spot and the last time I was there was when LT and I were first married. We tried out the pineapple maze. And looked at pineapple. The end.

Since then they have added a little train ride, The Pineapple Express.

{source}

Since Little Bear loves anything and everything train related we decided to take him on it. He actually had been there before when my parents came out after Baby was born. It was pretty cute to see him get so excited about the train.

Baby was less impressed, poor little guy is teething like crazy. He fell asleep after the first few minutes. It was a nice day spending time as a family!

Here, let me help you...

2011-02-02T15:27:00.000-10:00

I decided that I just had to do my shopping today since LT was off from work. I do appreciate the commissary (a lot!) but I've never been a fan of grocery shopping and adding small children to the mix makes the whole experience just a tad more stressful. So, the plan was for LT who had to go by work for training in the morning to stop at the commissary and grab the boys so I could finish in relative peace. After I picked up Little Bear from pre-school we went to the commissary with no LT in sight. Fortunately, even though it was right after pay day it wasn't too crowded. Little Bear was insisting every round piece of produce was an apple and was trying very hard to put all kinds of ~~apples~~ veggies in the cart. Then he was busy looking for cookies and trying to motion for me to grab whatever he considered a cookie. And then he was getting very wiggly. And the seat belt was broken in the shopping cart.

But. He did better especially after I pulled out my ipod for him to play with the pre-school apps. I'm telling you, technology can be wonderful! Baby on the other hand was fussy, hungry and tired from not napping while I was at MOPS this morning.

So what's a mom to do? Well, he was strapped into the Ergo baby (LOVE, that thing!), so I just whipped out my nursing cover in the frozen meal section and nursed him as I continued to shop. I'm sure I got strange looks but hey, it worked. It was a little awkward though while reaching for the frozen spinach on the top shelf but in the end I was able to get my shopping done. And while I was in the last aisle who do I see? LT, of course! Even though he missed out on most of the fun, he was there to unload the wagon and help me get the boys settled into the car.

So moms, what strange things have you had to do to maintain the peace with your children in order to get something done?

Mil Spouse Friday Fill In

2011-01-28T08:55:00.001-10:00

***GIVEAWAY***giveaway***GIVEAWAY***

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It's Aloha Friday and I'm super excited to get a facial today! Have you seen those deals you can get through your e-mail like Groupon and Living Social? The other week I got an offer to buy a $50 gift certificate for $25 at this cute little place where I've been before to get my eyebrows threaded. If you've never done threading or never heard of it I recommend you give it a try. Your eyebrows will thank you, and it doesn't hurt like waxing does. The business also does facials and I am going to try it out today!

{not mine}

It is also Mil Spouse Friday Fill In hosted by Wife of a Sailor:

1. If you were a famous movie star, what types of movies would you star in?

Any Jane Austen period films for sure! I love the costumes and scenery, wouldn't that be fun to wear a beautiful dress for a party scene but at the end still be able to use a modern bathroom!?

2. What is a vacation you would like to take if money were no object?

I would love to travel to Southeast Asia and visit archaeological ruins like Angkor Wat in Cambodia but I would also love to travel to Europe and South American and tour Russia- preferably not in winter. I haven't been to too many countries outside of the U.S. but I love to travel and learn. If money were no object I would probably be gone a long time!

3. Did you have pets growing up?

We had birds, dogs and a few cats. We always considered them a part of our family so most of them lived with us until a ripe old age!

4. What do you do for exercise?

I like to run but I would like to try a Zumba class and see what all the fuss is about. I've heard it is a lot of fun!

5. What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received as a MilSpouse?

Not every place is going to be where you want to be and live but find something you like to do and enjoy it for what it's worth. Otherwise it's going to be a looong duty station!

It's a Blizzard out there!

2011-01-27T17:21:00.006-10:00

Aloha and E komo Mai! I am participating in Household 6 Diva's Blizzard Bloghop today, if you are interested in joining hop on over yourself and check it out!

So, about me:

My name is Joanna, somehow I am now 30 and out of my twenties. I am a military brat (I'm not a big fan of that term, I need a better one!) and wife to an Army officer and so when people ask me where I'm from, I'm not sure what to say. You mean- the place I was born? The place I'm living now? The place I came from before? The place I've lived the longest?
You get the idea.....

I am currently living in the beautiful state of Hawaii, I actually like to say I'm from here because it is the place I've lived the longest. I attended and graduated both high school and college here in Hawaii.

I majored in anthropology with a focus in archaeology and a minor in history. I truly love archaeology (I think this was set off by watching Indiana Jones movies with my dad- ha ha! It really isn't like that at all but most people think of that when you say archaeology!) I am planning on getting my master's in either museum studies or middle eastern archeology- something along those lines- and probably when my children start school.

I met my husband in Hawaii was I was the very young age of 18. He was a young PFC stationed at Schofield Barracks and I was still living at home with my parents who were stationed there as well. I had a job at the PX (Post Exchange) where I worked in the Dive Shop (I used to scuba dive), he ~~nervously shuffled~~ waltzed in and asked me to coffee. We were somewhat set up my a mutual friend. So Starbucks was our first date, we hit it off and a year later we were married. I am happy to say we have just recently celebrated 10 years of marriage!

(He planned a 10 year renewal ceremony on the beach for me- he is a secret romantic!)

We have two darling little boys who bring us so much joy (and the occasional gray hair).

If you have gotten through all this without closing this page, thank you! I'm so glad you stopped by! (Check out my giveaway before it closes!) Feel free to leave a comment and say hello and I would love to stop by your page and say hello myself!

Wordless Wednesday: Wicked Wahine

2011-01-26T13:38:00.000-10:00

Wicked.........Wahine???

{not mine}

Explanation to follow... tomorrow!

Don't forget to enter my just in time for Valentine's ***GIVEAWAY*** courtesy of The Moldy Canoli!

Who wants to get sick on the weekend!?

2011-01-23T11:21:00.004-10:00

Don't forget to enter my ***Giveaway*** courtesy of The Moldy Cannoli!

**********************

Not me, that's for sure!

Especially when LT has the day off!! I was planning on having some alone time while he watched the boys - and not the kind where I'm laying in bed with the covers over my head! Unfortunately Little Baby came down with some congestion the other day and last night I could feel it being passed to me. Ugh! I woke up this morning exhausted and feeling like my head is floating above me. I rarely get sick and when I do it throws me for a loop. I hope it passes soon, I have no time to be sick when I have two small children to take care of.

Yesterday was another story and I was feeling just fine! There is a fishing club where we live that LT belongs to. Once a month they are able to fish off the shore and they usually stay out there for 24 hours. So LT brought out his fishing poles and the boys and I spent some time watching him (and the others) try their luck. Not long after I brought the boys out I heard one of the bells ringing.

With offshore fishing the poles get wedged in the sand after the line is cast and there is a bell attached so when someone gets a bite then they are alerted. That way several poles can be set at the same time. There were quite a few people on the beach and so we were all getting curious to see what he caught.

It's kind of hard to see in the picture but he caught a puffer fish. He was pretty cute for a fish, and got thrown back into the water and swam (far!) away.

It was a nice day and the boys loved it. Little Bear was exhausted from running up and down the beach all afternoon and promptly fell asleep as soon as I put him in his bed. Now I think it's time for me to get some rest since LT is off so I can be ready for the week!

Sweet Sounds of Saturday

2011-01-22T12:21:00.000-10:00

It's just another beautiful day in Hawaii nei and I can't complain with all the beautiful sunshine keeping me warm and giving me my dose of Vitamin D! And of course I've got my ipod going. If you are a fan of Jack Johnson, Ray Lamontagne, Joe Purdy or Matt Costa you should check out Donovan Frankenreiter.

(Not his video- but nice background for his song!)

(his video!)

Such nice, smooth, mellow sounds....you won't be disappointed! Perfect music to lay out on the beach to.....or to fold laundry like myself!

Mil Spouse Weekly Round Up

2011-01-21T12:21:00.000-10:00

Whew!

I just got back from a busy morning full of Dr.'s apts. for the boys. I had to wake up the boys (I hate doing that!) and leave early, early this morning to avoid traffic and find parking. I truly dislike trying to find a parking spot at Tripler. Not fun. But the bright side of getting there early is it isn't too difficult to do before 8.00 a.m.

Glad that's over and done with and now we're home! I'm considering taking a quick little power nap since it's also the boys nap time but first......

It's the Mil Spouse Weekly Round Up! Hosted this week by Singing through the Rain. Hop on over and get your military spouse blog fix for the week!

also....

If you haven't yet- check out my giveaway courtesy of The Moldy Cannoli! Entries are being accepted until Jan. 28.

Mil Spouse Friday Fill In

2011-01-21T06:15:00.000-10:00

Don't forget to enter my ***giveaway*** courtesy of the Moldy Cannoli!

Happy Aloha Friday! Jump on over to Wife of a Sailor to join in!

1. What do you usually want to know about someone when meeting them for the first time?

Usually, and probably because we are a military family- where they are from and how they came to be living where they are now.

2. Would you rather know everything about your spouse, or be regularly surprised?

Honestly, I want to know everything. I am not a big fan of surprises. I know it drives LT nuts especially when he wants to do something special for me and I figure it out before it happens. I'm sorry!!

3. If you could live in one city for the rest of your life, where would you live?

Before children I would have said Honolulu without even taking a breath, I truly feel like it is my home. But now, after having children and seeing how they miss out on getting to know our extended family, not to mention having the support I think I would like to live somewhere close by them. However, I don't know where that would be especially since my dad is still active duty Army!

4. When you go out of town, what one material thing do you ALWAYS take?

A book, I love to read! Having little ones makes it a little more difficult to read for as long as I'd like but I still always take one with me. It's one way I relax.

5. Using no more than 10 nouns, and ONLY nouns, describe yourself.

History, read, archaeology, surf, ocean, mommy, outdoors, sun, beach, coffee =)

I heart Costco.

2011-01-20T13:00:00.000-10:00

*******Don't forget to check out my very first G*I*V*E*A*W*A*Y courtesy of The Moldy Cannoli*******

It is way too easy to spend a pretty penny shopping at Costco! I went yesterday since LT had the day off because sometimes it can be a nice break to shop alone, without fussy babies and bored toddlers (can I get an amen!). I said, "aloha, dear husband, please watch the boys while I go pick up diapers....oh, and milk!" And I came home with....

and

and a few more things I couldn't find pictures of!

Other than the commissary, Costco is the one other store I do most of my shopping at. I have to say most of the time it's a more pleasant experience that the commissary if just for the samples alone! That can do wonders for a restless two year old and husband!

Giveaway time!

2011-01-20T07:45:00.001-10:00

~Giveway is now closed~

I am excited to host my very first giveaway!

The Moldy Cannoli, a cute little shop on Etsy wants to sponsor a GIVEAWAY on my blog!

Her shop features handmade creations as well as items that match her creative taste and style. The owner of this shop is also a college student who is getting her shop off the ground while juggling classes, work and being a newlywed!

She also has a blog, The Moldy Cannoli where she write about crafting, her unique sense of style and life in general.

So what are the details?

The prize: Darling, little handmade Valentine's Day tags! A 10 pack set, perfect for writing your love a sweet little note and leaving it under a pillow, in a lunch bag, tied a round a coffee cup....you get the idea! The possibilities are endless!

Mandatory Entry: Hop over to The Moldy Cannoli and comment on my blog, telling me what your favorite item is.

Want to get extra entries? Then.....

1. Become a follower on The Moldy Cannoli's Blog and leave me a comment telling me you did.

2. Become a follower on my blog and leave me a comment.

3. Blog or facebook about this giveaway and leave me a comment.

Contest open in USA/ Canada only!

MUST leave separate comments for each entry.

Winner will be chosen by random number generator.

Winner will be contacted by me via e-mail- (don't forget to leave your e-mail address!)

Contest open until January 28th 2011.

Weekend Recap

2011-01-17T07:39:00.001-10:00

Happy Aloha Monday to you! I notice I have some new followers, thank you for finding my blog, it's always fun to get new readers.

E komo mai!

(welcome!)

I had a nice weekend, did you? I hung out mostly with this guy:

And this guy:

And got to do a little of this:

So nice!

We won't be living in Hawaii indefinitely so I try to take advantage of beach time as much as I can!

Last night LT and I got a babysitter and went on a double date. After eating fabulous Indian food for dinner, we went and saw this:

I wasn't overly impressed. There were some funny parts but I would save my money and just wait for netflix or redbox.

How was your weekend?

Yard Sale-ing kind of day.

2011-01-15T13:18:00.001-10:00

This morning LT and I packed up the boys and drove up to Schofield Barracks to hunt for yard sales. He is always on the lookout for anything fishing/ dive/ kayak related and I was hoping to maybe stumble across outdoor furniture. I have a really big lanai with an amazing view and need something to accommodate that! Well, we weren't successful but Little Bear and baby were being so good while we were doing all the sloooooow drive by's so we stopped at a huge playground and let Little Bear run off some energy. Now that we're back I think I need to take advantage of the sun and lay out on the beach!

On another note, it is Saturday around the World day hosted by Amanda + Don, a fellow military spouse living in Germany (how fun would that be!?) Stop on by to connect to other bloggers who live around the world!

Happy Aloha Saturday!

Mil Spouse Weekly Round Up #19

2011-01-14T06:38:00.000-10:00

Nothing to do on a cold, freezing, Friday afternoon? Well click on this link and catch up on your military spouse blogs because it's time for the Mil Spouse Weekly Roundup. This week it's hosted by Flip Flops and Combat Boots. Read away!

Foto Friday: Stairs

2011-01-14T06:30:00.001-10:00

Happy Aloha Friday to you! It's time for Foto Friday and this weeks theme is stairs. Keeping in line with my posts that seems to be about Little Bear I thought I would post a picture from his first day of school. There is a set of stairs he has to walk up to get to his classroom. Sometimes he walks up and sometimes he climbs over the railing and pulls himself up but either way he makes it to class!

Wordless Wedne.... Thursday!

2011-01-13T17:25:00.000-10:00

Little Bear and his daddy. He really can be so charming!

Naughty Notice

2011-01-12T20:57:00.003-10:00

{not mine}

Little Bear goes to pre-school twice a week. He's been going since August and usually always has a nice time and enjoys learning and playing with the other children. It's a nice little pre-school and there are only about 10 children in his class with two teachers. The teachers always send a little notice in their backpacks when we pick them up stating if their diaper was wet/ dry, if they were happy, sad, listened to the teacher, etc. He has been getting a few "not listening" marks but today took the cake. He didn't listen to his teachers, wasn't interested in doing the lesson, was mean to his friends, threw himself on the ground a few times, and let out a few shrieks just for the fun of hearing his voice. His class is less than three hours long so I'm sure his teachers were probably ready for that day to be over. I am just a little mortified. He sounds like a brat. Yep, I said it. I give him boundaries and he is totally testing them. LT and I work very hard on being consistent with what we say and how we allow him to act. Is this normal behavior for a two year old? Oh, Little Bear..........

It's Magically Delicious!

2011-01-11T07:56:00.000-10:00

Yesterday I had the itch to bake something. I am not usually a cake fan but I do have one recipe that will make anyone reconsider their New Year Resolutions to stay away from sweets! I decided to pull out my Chocolate Oatmeal Cake recipe. I copied it from my mom's recipe box when I first got married and she got it from her mom. It's moist, chocolately decadence will keep you wanting to come back for more and more. So to circumvent that I decided to make them into fun little cupcakes and as soon as they were done I packed them in the cupcake carrier for LT to to take to work to share with some lucky people.

So now if your tastebuds are tingling and you are thinking of reasons to make a dessert fear not! Here is the recipe so you can try it for yourselves:

Chocolate Oatmeal Cake

1 C Rolled Oats
1 1/2 C Boiling Water
1/2 C (1 stick) of butter
1 1/2 C Sugar
2 Eggs
1 C Flour
1/2 Baking Cocoa
1 tsp Baking Soda
1 tsp Salt
1 tsp Vanilla

Mix rolled oats and boiling water together and let cool. Cream butter with sugar and eggs. Add oatmeal mixture along with flour, cocoa, baking soda, salt and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Baked in greased pan 350 degrees for 35 minutes. Frost with coconut icing.

Coconut Icing

1 C Powdered Sugar
2 C Coconut
2 Tlbs butter
1/2 C milk

Mix well and boil until thick.

About Me

2011-01-04T10:03:00.001-10:00

I was reading my little blurb "about me" on the right hand of my blog and realized it's in need of updating.

Primarily:

Am.

No longer.

20- something.

Nope.

Actually I've been 30 for a few months now, but one can keep livin' the dream, right?

So, must update that. Funny, because I don't really feel 30- whatever that's supposed to feel like. But on the other hand, when I go on post to shop I look around and see really young soldiers with their wives and families and it starts to make me feel old. When I was still a military brat I used to work at the PX for a time and I used to think most of the soldiers were old-ish.

How time changes things!

So I am no longer 20 something, we are not at our first duty station since LT went Green to Gold and my wish to click my heels and be on a beach under a cabana, drinking a margarita has happily come true!

I really need to give this blog a design overhaul!

Oh, and as we say in Hawai'i : Hauoli Makahiki Hou! Happy New Year!

Too early.

2010-12-28T06:03:00.002-10:00

Little Bear decided he needed to get up at 4:30 this morning. I mean, who does that!? He has proceeded to go through my purse in order to find snacks I usually keep in there for him and now he's watching Dora, what he calls "Dor" while it is still quite dark outside.

Yesterday while LT was at work I took down all the Christmas decorations and tree. I know some may think I am just not in the holiday spirit but I live in a warm climate so now that Christmas is past it seems out of place. PLUS, I live in a pretty small house and since the tree has been up I have had to do some creative maneuvering of the furniture to get it all to fit without us tripping over each other and stuff in the way. It's nice to have a little more room again.

Our Christmas was really nice. We had a very mellow Christmas Eve and Christmas morning was quiet. We had several friends over that evening and ate a ton of delicious Mexican food and fabulous tamales. It was a really fun night and I wish I could post pictures, especially of us playing charades but I didn't take any pictures! (dumb!) So here is a picture of Christmas Eve instead!

Foto Friday: Holidays

2010-12-24T13:45:00.006-10:00

Foto Friday is here! I found out my picture from last week was featured in the Landscape theme, how cool! Foto Friday is hosted by Household 6 Diva and the theme this week is Holidays.

Here in Hawaii there is no cold, no snow, no blustery weather. And I'm ok with that. Last year I was up to my neck in snow, the D.C. area was pounded with several blizzards and I just kept telling myself, "Next year, I will be tanning on a beach....." So here I am, and here is a picture of a ornament made out of a coconut (island style!) that I picked up at a craft fair with LT.

Mele Kalikimaka to you all!

Mil Spouse Weekly Round Up

2010-12-24T10:39:00.008-10:00

Wow, it's Friday and Christmas Eve already! This week has flown by! Happy Aloha Friday and Merry Christmas! I hope all your shopping is done and presents are wrapped and you don't have to go to the commissary like I did this morning.....crowds....... But now its time for:

The Young Retiree is hosting this week so stop on by, grab a Christmas cookie and a cup of coffee and catch up on some mil - spouse blogs!

To the founder of the feast....

2010-12-24T10:39:00.006-10:00

Anyone know what that line is from?

source

One of my favorite Christmas movies, the Christmas Carol! I've seen many different versions, one of my favorite's is the Muppet's Christmas Carol but I think tonight LT, Little Bear and I will be watching the Jim Carrey version. I bought it on blu-ray last month and we haven't watched it yet! Today is the best day, I think!

I have been a bad blogger this week. I have been pretty busy baking, going to parties and making tamales. It's my family's tradition to make huge amounts of tamales at Christmas. I am sad to say since I have been married I have bought mine at Costco. hee hee. But this year I decided, why can't I make them? I decided it couldn't be too hard to do so I spent one afternoon assembling about 100 chicken and pork tamales, steaming them and freezing them for Christmas dinner. I can't wait! I did eat one after I made them, you know - quality control.... and they were pretty darn good.

We are having several families over for Christmas Dinner- Mexican style and also a white elephant. This will actually be my fourth this month but they are so much fun. I love seeing what interesting stuff people bring.

Foto Friday: Landscape

2010-12-17T07:14:00.005-10:00

Household 6 Diva is hosting Foto Friday. I have been really bad about doing it except for the first week. But, I'm back today! This Friday the theme is landscape. Which is a good thing because this morning I looked out my window and saw this:

I love mornings in beautiful Hawaii. If you look closely you can see Diamond Head in the background.

Operation Family Connect

2010-12-14T12:24:00.004-10:00

Many of you know of the USO and all that it does for our Armed Services as well as their family members. The USO, along with P&G and Walmart have teamed up to proved deployed military members as well as their families access to pre-paid phone cards and improved satellite connections for increased talk. I have recently been contacted asking me to share with you all about Operation Family Connect. Here is a little more about it:

"Operation Family Connect" (www.operationfamilyconnect.com) is helping families connect by bringing much-needed improvements to communications technology and resources overseas and with P&G and Walmart’s support, the USO will be able to provide increased talk time for troops and families. The USO recently launched “Operation Family Connect: Road to Reunion,” a series of six web videos, produced by the Zizo Group, which chronicle three military families as they anticipate the return of their family members from Iraq.

These touching videos will run throughout the month of December and viewers can follow each family’s compelling story through their home videos and blogs, as they anticipate the return of their loved ones. On December 21^st, the long-awaited reunion videos will go live on the Operation Family Connect website and all can share in this exciting moment.

The Binkley Family
Aside from a brief visit, Marshall has not seen his wife Dawn in over a year. Being a tattoo artist, he carries a tough-guy presence, but deep down, he is a sensitive guy who’ll shed a tear at a photo of his wife. He is Mr. Mom to his three step-daughters and loves every second of it, even when it means playing both the homework police and the cook.

The Perry Family
With her husband Rick finishing his fourth deployment, Gabi Perry understands the realities of a family separated by duty. For eight years she has lived near Fort Stewart as an army wife, raising her three children and building a community of support for other military families. Gabi knows their struggle better than anyone, but as she comforts them, she must also contend with her own sense of longing for her husband’s return.

The Rathburn Family
Ariana's husband David deployed to Iraq in December of 2009 — the week after their first child was born. Being a new mom with an unplanned child, Ariana must now raise their son, Ian, by herself in a new town. A year is a long time to be away and many changes have occurred in Ariana's life, including new friends, newly found self-reliance, and her well-earned confidence in motherhood. She worries about how David will adjust when he returns to a hard-working mom and a child walking to hug him hello.

For those who want to help connect deployed soldiers with their family members during the holiday season, there is also an opportunity to donate to “Operation Family Connect” at www.operationfamilyconnect.com.

In one way or another many of us have been affected by a loved one being deployed. This is especially poignant for myself as my family will be going through a upcoming deployment soon. We all know how important and special it is to stay in touch with each other. I've already watched some of the videos and hope you do too! If you are interested you can also donate to this worthy cause.

GO ARMY!!

2010-12-11T08:11:00.002-10:00

BEAT Navy!!!

{source}

I know it's been a while but you can do it!!

Mil Spouse Weekly Round Up

2010-12-10T16:04:00.002-10:00

Almost forgot! After this morning's post I decided to bake some Christmas cookies, than the boys needed one thing or another and I almost forgot today is also Mil Spouse Weekly Roundup. Jump over to The Few, The Proud, the Wife, the host for this week to read more!

Off to clean the kitchen now........

Mil-Spouse Friday Fill In #24

2010-12-10T08:05:00.003-10:00

Happy Aloha Friday everyone. Time for Mil-Spouse Friday Fill In!

Want to join in and don't know how? Hop on over to Wife of a Sailor to find out!

1. What do you see your life like in 10 years?

With life as a military family, who knows? If LT stays in then we could be living anywhere, really. In ten years I would like to have gotten my master's degree and be working either in a museum or as a archaeologist in cultural resource management.

2. What do you like most about your job?

Well I haven't been employed where I actually get a paycheck in the last few years but my what I like most about my job at home is that I get to be with my boys. I love watching them grow and seeing wonder and new things through their eyes. I count it a privilege and blessing to be able to stay at home with them! They make me laugh and smile and they are precious!

3. What are three things you do every day, no matter what day it is?

I change lot's of diapers! I read books to my boys and go to the beach =)

4. What would you do with an extra five hours in the day today?

I would like to go down to the Honolulu Hale and see the Christmas lights and decorations with my family. Little Bear is really getting into Christmas lights this year. I hear lot's of "Oooo, wow!" in the backseat of the car when I'm driving.

5. What is your favorite Christmas (or whichever holiday you celebrate) cookie recipe (please share!)?

I really like Spritz and Pizzelles. I think they are so festive and not hard to make but you need a Pizzelle maker and spritz maker for those. I also like Snicker Doodles and they are easy to make. Here is the link to them. And who doesn't love Peanut Blossoms?

Wordless Wednesday

2010-12-08T18:15:00.002-10:00

Snow in Hawaii?

Making Spirits Bright!

2010-12-07T13:24:00.003-10:00

Today I put Operation Running Dog into motion. I really only ran down to the end of the street and back with Lulu before dropping her off at the house but she did well and at least I wasn't dragging her behind me. I think I shall consider it a success especially since I ran with her while pushing my boys in the stroller!

Little Bear has an Christmas Ornament exchange coming up for his class Christmas party. The name he drew out of a hat is a little girl's so I knew exactly what ornament I would pick out:

Doesn't it look good enough to eat? My sister who loves all things crafty and cute makes these and sells them through her Etsy store. Jump over there and check it out!

She also has her own blog The Moldy Cannoli with her own take on fun crafts and vintage style.

yummy, cupcakes!

Operation Running Dog

2010-12-04T07:43:00.003-10:00

Some of you know that I have recently taken up running. I even completed my first 5k not too long ago. I have found that I am actually enjoying running and have still continued to do so after I finished the couch to 5k program.

Meet Lulabelle:

Lulabelle is our American Bulldog mix and a runner she is not. She is a generally a very well behaved dog and is a sweet, gentle girl to our boys. I decided the other week that she should run with me. Why not, I thought? On the rare occasion she escapes the house she will take off like a rocket and fly down the beach, jump in the ocean, take a swim-you know - be sort of athletic.... Catching her, though is another story. So I thought I would try a run with her.

Ha. Ha.

I barely made it to our mailbox down the road. She was not interested in running. At all. I looked like an idiot trying to pull an unwilling 65 lb dog behind me down the road. Needless to say I dropped her back off at home.

I thought that would be the end of her days as my running partner but I have decided to give it another shot. She needs the exercise and it would be good for her to burn energy. Therefore, I am making her own Couch to 5k program. I will take her on short runs and progress to longer ones and reward her with a treat at the end so she starts to look forward to it.

Let Operation Running Dog begin!

Mil-Spouse Friday Fill In

2010-12-03T06:40:00.002-10:00

Happy Aloha Friday from the beautiful island of Hawaii! It's time for Mil-Spouse Friday Fill In so jump over to Wife of a Sailor to join in!

1.If you were given $1,000 right now, how would you spend it?

I'm mostly done with my Christmas shopping so I would probably finish that and then throw the rest towards paying off debt. Dave Ramsey, folks.

2.If you had to choose a movie title (a real one that already exists) for your life story, what would it be?

Hmmm...this could be interesting. The Pursuit of Happyness? sometimes.....Little Miss Sunshine? Ha, ha! Not after a sleepless night from getting up too much with Little Baby. Seven Pounds? Is what I would like to lose (and then some...) OK.. OK.... Perhaps I will choose Away We Go, because our life, especially being a military family never stays static. Things are always on the move and changing around here!

3.If you were a teacher, what subject would you like to teach?

History. Hands down. I love it. I would hope that my love for it could inspire students to want to learn more about how we got to be where we are today.

4.Has being a MilSpouse changed how you view holidays or how your holidays are celebrated? If so, how? If not, what hasn’t changed?

Definitely, most of the time our family is alone for holidays so when we are able to get together with family I try to make the time count and enjoy being with them. We are stationed far, far away from any family so getting together is difficult. When we can't be with family it's important for us to reach out to others who are in the same situation as us and celebrate with them.

5.What is your favorite Christmas (or whatever holiday you celebrate) memory?

My dad used to have an old reel to reel player that had old Christmas music on it. My sisters and I would always love when he dragged it out and set it up. It always felt more festive with it playing in the background. I wonder if he still has it...

Handel's Messiah

2010-12-02T14:34:00.002-10:00

Have most of you have seen the viral YouTube video of Handel's Messiah being performed in a food court? It seems to be popping up on my facebook page a lot! But just in case you haven't.....

It's pretty common to hear it a lot during the Christmas season, although it's not necessarily a piece made for Christmas. I remember the first time I heard it was when I was a kid. My family attended my older sister's Christmas concert when she was in junior high. I remember everyone stood up during the Hallelujah chorus and not really understanding why. I can't deny that it is extraordinarily moving to me and it is a beautiful piece.

So since it's early in the advent season, some of you history aficionados might like to read this informative article, the behind the scenes story of Handel's Messiah. Enjoy!

Here's another interesting look at a different interpretation of the popular piece:

Blog Facelift Please!

2010-12-02T12:13:00.002-10:00

I've had this blog layout for awhile now and it's in need of some sprucing up! My photo header makes it hard to read the title of the blog and the whole thing just generally needs an overhaul.

Anyone have any suggestions on where or who I can have make me a eye catching blog design? I would like to support a military spouse but am open to anyone, really. I do like some of the vintage-looking military type designs.

Help......

Anyone........

Mahalo!!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-12-01T14:52:00.002-10:00

Little Bear hasn't tried to take any ornaments off......yet!

Mr. Nice Guy

2010-11-30T19:21:00.003-10:00

Last night I was surprised to hear LT's truck pulling up to the house several hours before he was supposed to be off work. He had misread his schedule and ended up off work three hours before he originally thought. I had just put the boys to bed and went outside to greet him when he surprised me with these:

What a thoughtful husband!

Thanksgiving Recap

2010-11-27T08:44:00.005-10:00

Our Thanksgiving went very well-how was yours? I have to say I was nervous about making my first turkey but it turned out delicious. LT decided instead of sprinkling salt and pepper and the spices on top he needed to massage them on the giant beast of a turkey. I think that the rub combined with putting the turkey in a bag helped it to turn out very moist and tasty. We had some good friends come over with fabulous food and all in all it was a really nice time, followed by a post turkey walk along the beach!

I've already put up my Christmas tree. I had LT bring out all the decorations and while Little Bear was taking a nap I tried to put everything out as fast as I could. I had my Pandora Christmas playlist going and it felt festive even though it is bright, sunny and 80 degrees here (trust me, I'm not complaining!). I like the old Christmas music and carols as opposed to the more recent covers that current singers come out with- with the exception of a few. One of my favorites is the Vince Guaraldi Charlie Brown Christmas. It's so soothing and perfect for calming down my boys when we are driving in the car. Bing Crosby is a favorite, too.

Who do you like to listen to?

Count your blessings instead of sheep

2010-11-23T09:47:00.004-10:00

This year we are hosting Thanksgiving dinner at our house. Who wouldn't want to hang out with us, eat turkey and then relax on the beach with a nice glass of wine? I didn't throw in watch football because we don't have cable and therefore whoever comes over hopefully won't care too much!

I am not a huge fan of traditional turkey dinners. Last year I made a turkey breast with all the trimmings for LT and my sister and I had indian food. Oh, so good! But this year we are doing a pot luck style meal. I'm telling you, people in Hawaii really know how to bring the food to a pot luck. I know it will be good. Since it's at our house we will be making the turkey and ham. I bought a GIANT turkey and it's currently thawing in the fridge. I have to say I'm a little nervous for it to turn out good but I bought one of those turkey bags so I'm hopeful it will turn out moist and delicious instead a tasting like dried cardboard.

So as the day draws near I am continually thinking of things I am thankful for. I am very thankful for my wonderful boys. They are truly a blessing and gift and have brought so much joy to mine and LT's life. I am thankful for my extended family and that we are close and actually like to spend time together even though we all live so far apart. I am thankful that LT has a stable job in a good profession. And I am thankful for LT!

What are you thankful for?

I'll leave you with a little clip from one of my most favorite Christmas movies ever:

Dearest Santa

2010-11-21T17:14:00.004-10:00

Dear Santa,

I would like really like these lovely glasses from here if it's possible. That way I can enjoy a lovely frozen margarita on the beach while I watch the ships sail by. And the best thing is: they are on clearance!

Mahalo!

Mil-Spouse Friday Fill In #22

2010-11-19T07:31:00.009-10:00

It's Aloha Friday and time for Mil-Spouse Friday Fill-In. Hop on over to Wife of a Sailor to join in!

It's also the Mil-Spouse Weekly Round Up hosted by Trading Diamonds for Dogtags. Go check her out!

1. If you had to be shipwrecked on a deserted island, but all your human needs – such as food and water – were taken care of, what two items would you want to have with you?

Hmm....probably a kindle with a battery that never dies, stocked with books and a satellite cell phone so someone could come get me. I'd miss my family too much to want to hang around for long!

2. If you were a salad, what kind of dressing would you have?

Greek Vinaigrette. Tasty without being heavy or creamy and it has feta! mmmmmmm...

3. If you had to live on a ranch, what kind of animals would you raise/own?

Horses and probably chickens because I would like to have fresh eggs everyday! My younger sister and I used to dream and talk about having a Dude Ranch one day. It would be called the Wildcat Ranch in honor of my grandpa whose family once owned a Wildcat Ranch in Colorado when he was a boy. We used to be big fans of that old Nickelodeon show, Hey Dude. Anyone remember it?

4. If your life was was portrayed as a movie, who would you choose to play you and your significant other?

Good question, I don't know who I would want to play me but I think LT could be played by Scott Caan -Danno on the new Hawaii 5-0. I think that would be a good fit....friendly, with a little bit of sarcastic humor.

5. What was the last thing you put a stamp on (envelope, duh, but what was in the envelope)?

Well I just mailed a package yesterday but it was last month when I mailed an envelope with an actual stamp on it which was an R.S.V.P. for my younger sister's wedding.

Foto Friday: Things you love

2010-11-18T20:36:00.006-10:00

I am happy to be joining in on something new for Friday's. Foto Friday. If you want to join in, hop on over to Household 6 Diva for more info. I'll still be participating in Mil Spouse Fill- In's and Round Up's so I guess my Friday's will have lot's of posts!

For this Friday I'm sharing a picture of Little Bear. I love his joyful spirit and sense of adventure.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-11-17T03:03:00.003-10:00

Brothers

I did the whole thing!

2010-11-16T14:12:00.005-10:00

Some of you know that I have been working on a Couch to 5k program which I started back in September. I started it being in absolutely no shape, just having given birth to a baby and recovering from a c-section, so needless to say it was a slow start! Which is what the program is about, so 1) you don't strain yourself right out the gate and 2) you don't get burned out and hate it. I am not a runner at all but I really wanted to set a goal and see myself accomplish it. So the past two months I've ran early in the morning while the boys were in bed and when LT was home, or in the evening or I would just strap the boys in the jogging stroller and take them with me. The program is only 9 weeks long. When I got to week 4 I figured I needed to stick with it to it's completion because I was at the half way point and I had told a bunch of people I was doing it so I didn't want to be lame and quit. So I did it! LT and I signed up for a 5k this past Saturday and ran it.

I'm really glad I did it and I was able to run the whole thing without feeling like I was going to pass out. I didn't run very fast. It was like 11 minute miles but the important thing is I finished it and I'm in a lot better shape that I was two months ago!

Mil-Spouse Friday Fill In #21

2010-11-12T06:51:00.005-10:00

Happy Aloha Friday to you! What are your plans for this weekend? I have 5k race bright and early tomorrow morning. I'm pretty excited about it because it means that I actually finished the whole couch to 5k program. I haven't written much about it but I think I will tomorrow after the race- pictures included!

So on to Mil-Spouse Friday! Hop on over to Wife of a Sailor to join in!

1. Were you named after anyone?

I'm pretty sure I wasn't. I remember this past summer after I had Little Baby and my mom was out here we were discussing names. Most of the time she was out here I was in a sleep-deprived, walking coma but I think she said she gave me the name Joanna because a) she liked it, thought it was pretty and b) it was different then the more common (at the time) Joanne.

2. What color, if any, are your toenails usually painted?

Usually a fushcia/red-ish pink. It's funny because the older I get the darker the colors seems to be. When I was in my early 20's I would only get pastel colors. Fuschia seemed to old and a color my mom might wear. But now.....I...like it. Yep. I can't really see myself wearing pastel colors now. Yeah, I'm getting old. er.

3. How do you flush a public toilet? Hands? Feet? Something else?

Jedi mind tricks for sure! When that doesn't work I resort to my foot. It got a little harder when I was 9 months pregnant but I gross out at the thought of what germs might be lurking....

4. When you were a little kid, which TV character did you have a crush on?

Mark Paul Gosselaar from Saved by the Bell. That was a great show! I dutifully watched it every Saturday morning with my older sister. No one wore high tops and pegged leg jeans quite like Zach Morris!

5.Let’s say you had to lose one of your five senses (sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell). Which one would you choose? Why?

I think hearing, that way I could still function almost normally, although I would have to depend on my sight a lot more.

Things I like Thursdays

2010-11-11T16:09:00.007-10:00

I like that this is what I see when I walk two steps from my house:

I really like this so far:

I just picked it up today and it's awesome because it works for an infant (Little Baby) all the way through the toddler years (Little Bear). I know it will get a lot of use out of it and it eliminates the need for a bouncy seat and swing- both of which are taking up too much space in our small living room.

And I really like this:

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