Spring Ideas!

Hello there! Welcome to blog post attributed totally and completely to S-P-R-I-N-G! Boy do I love Springtime! So, in this post I have included several pictures of the Spring inside our home only hoping to motivate you to join in adding some happy color to your home!

The first picture is of my banana-walnut muffins that I baked this morning. They are so healthy and yummy. I am trying to be a more healthy eater yet eat yummy too! These muffins are a great compromise.

My next pictures include the shelving areas inside our home. Basically, to brighten up our home, I wanted to do it on a budget but not look cheap. So I went to my can cupboard and pulled out all of my glass jar collection and ran to Wal-mart for some (artificial) flowers...I really just threw everything up there whether it matched or not. I really like how it all really kind of just flows...

Shown below I have a wall of picture frames that I re-arranged throughout the house, changed pictures to colorful photos, and also changed the two sconce candles to a brighter color...I need to mention that I found the cute colorful birds at TJ Maxx! Great buys are everywhere!

The last tip I have for a Spring/Summer house addition is fresh flowers! The spider mum is actually from Wal-mart (fresh) and the other white flower is off of my Spirea bush outside. They look just perfect sitting in my white wine glass.

OH, and another change you may consider...your curtains! Change your curtains to a brighter color for the Summer. I did - ivory rather than the usual brown. They really open up the room and allow the outside to come inside! Yay for Spring!

With my kind of style this Spring and Summer, I really am trying to not match everything. I think the key is: There is no rule. For me, there is no rule on Spring and Summer looks. Just fun and carefree. I think this is what I need most in my life right now. Fun and carefree! So, go find a shelf to re-decorate for Spring and if you lack even the shelf...you need to call me. Clearly we have not spent enough time together!

LOVELOVE

My Rather Unfortunate Experience at BACH

Today I thought I would inform you of my illness now that I’ve informed you of my animals’. Yep. I have been to the doctor three times this month, lab work included, and also coming up I’ve got a gallbladder sonogram this Tuesday. Not doing very well lately however, I am coping alone as I have for the past year. I am so grateful that my best friend is coming up to go with me to this appointment on Tuesday. I don’t do well with needles or anyone in a white lab coat.

Interestingly enough, my bout with the lab work was rather unfortunate however; luckily, I did not pass out. By the hour wait came to a close and my number was called, I went through the awful swinging door and sat at a “station” to have my blood drawn, I was shaking so badly they moved me to a padded chair and handed me an ice pack. This is never good. I wished so badly that Jim was there to hold my other hand. Believe it or not, I only have one small bruise and it’s only a tad sore.

As I am the Commander in Chic here while the Commander in Ranger Panties is away, I manage the house as usual with flying colors and only crying at night in the dark. You know, I thought this three week absence would be easier since we’ve just endured the dreaded year-long deployment, but I am mistaken. I sure miss my man. Again.

LOVELOVE

I Just Wiped Canned Dog Food in My Ear

Yes folks, I did. Just the usual 8pm feeding. In conjunction with my last blog, I have furthered my parenting skills to include serving my animals’ soft food twice a day. I have had to do this for awhile, however I am still not over the smell of soft, canned animal food...have you ever taken a whiff of that stuff? Okay, if not, don't. It is truly disgusting. Gross.

I think Sadie is on her choice of chicken or beef and Shooter has no choice at all as it is a low-fat, very bland mushy (I think it's beef) kind of food. In short, I have had one heck of a three weeks without my husband.

Well, I must include the fact that we are going broke due to these two munchkins of ours. Almost two weeks ago I took them to the veterinarian (and spent a fortune)...both, on the same day at the same time. Yes, this was quite amusing to others in the office I am sure.

Shooter pulled me all the way from the car to the door and promptly put on the brakes as we entered the office. While pushing (literally) him into the office with poor Sadie flopping (literally) around in her over-the-shoulder carrier, I managed to fish out my military i.d. As I am trying to sign in and deposit both labeled poop baggies into the hands of the nurse, an older man begins a conversation about Shooter's breed with me. After I answer, he proceeds to explain both dogs that he owns and their personalities and giggles as he mentions the fact that Shooter appears to pretty much walk me instead of the other way around. As this man is talking, Shooter has managed to tangle me, Sadie, and himself in a mess of which I have to physically clime out of. I felt so incapable of managing this situation and turned bright red. I sat in the corner until Shooter and Sadie's names were called.

Sadie, in for her yearly vaccinations and Shooter for his heartworm test as well as an infection and another antihistamine, both did rather well considering. I might ask you, did you hear that big in the middle..yea, about the infection? Absolutely, another infection. The same one...So, here we are soft food twice a day with three pills in the morning and one at night.

This is the account of the last two weeks with the animals. Definitely not ideal. On the bright side, when I am lonely they take care of me.

On a totally separate has-nothing-to-do-with-this-post note: I will be posting shorter posts so as not to take up much of your time.

LOVELOVE

Activities of Late include (but are not limited to): Goodbyes and Dog puke.

Would I ever be so lucky to have one complete year with my husband and without dog puke? Well, not this year. As most of you know, Jim came back from Afghanistan Feb 9^th 2011. What an amazing day.

Cue scene from days leading up to and including Feb 9^th: I was a nervous wreck. Every time someone would find out Jim was due back, they would ask the notorious question of “Are you excited?” Well, okay, WHAT KIND OF QUESTION IS THAT? My husband has been deployed for a year and you are asking me if I’m excited? Of course. There is a point of hesitation though, that most military wives take due to them not actually in the safe zone until their husband actually steps on U.S. soil. After 350 days and nights of worrying, we are able to finally take one giant deep breath as he deplanes and say, “We made it through.” To me, it is not really a feeling of excitement but more of relief. We had made it through the black-outs, call-downs, static satellite telephone calls, vet visits, doctor visits, the-house-is-falling-down kind of days, and the sting of loneliness every single night that we were apart.

The week before Jim came home I was busy readying everything to be in place so I could avoid all house-cleaning for the first week of him being home. I wanted to enjoy him without the worry of the miniscule everyday details. When the chores were complete, I made six dozen hugs and kiss cookies for the soldiers. Most of the wives decide to provide a bit of refreshments for them as they checked in gear at the battalion. After baking, I was able to worry about more important things, such as hair, nails, and outfit. I chose a basic outfit due to cold temps that day, clear polish due to my picking off any speck of color from nerves, and curled my hair due to lack of anything else to do that morning.

I left for the bus about an hour and forty minutes early so as not to miss it. My dear friend and photography greeted me out at the hanger and we decided were to sit so as to provide a clear view of Jim when he walked in as well as ease for him to pick me out of the crowd. Naturally, I picked the front so when he walked in, he could look forward as they are required to do, and still see me.

T-minus 1 Minute

As the soldiers filed into the hanger and stopped just before the stage, I had a minute to search the sea of ACU uniforms. And there, just two or three rows back, I saw that smile. There he was. My eyes locked on his for just a moment and it was magic. It was like at that exact moment, we were both thinking, “Hi...we made it.” After a torturous five minutes, the soldiers were released and here he came, walking toward me. It was the best moment of my life, aside from the moment we were married. He was home and safe...little did I know...

Yep folks, he’s gone again. This time it is only for twenty-two days and it is stateside so you and I can still breathe. Yesterday we left for the airport around 8 a.m. for his departure of 10:35 with flight arrival in Fayetteville, NC. I don’t think saying goodbye gets any easier no matter the amount of times we say it. As long as it is a loved one, it hurts. It hurts like a splinter in your left pinky finger. I can say, ladies and gentlemen, I did not shed one tear at that terminal...I was a least a good five minutes on my way back home. I must say, this gets a bit old...the goodbyes I mean. Unfortunately in Jim’s profession, they happen more often than not and after almost six and a half years of our togetherness I am getting pretty used to it.

Oh, and the whole thing about dog puke, yea. I just think it’s in his DNA...to puke ALL THE TIME. Hey, I guess I can say I’m pretty prepared for child rearing.

Until Tomorrow,

LOVELOVE