Please read!

Hey everyone this is a message I got from my friend who is deployed overseas currently.

"We have a major problem. While our stuff was being shipped over here, people (Pakistanis or Afghanis) broke into our Conexs (giant metal containers holding ALL of our stuff) and stole everything! Most of the soldiers in my unit are missing basics like soap, shampoo, deodorant, tooth paste and tooth brushes, razors/blades. Some people don't have bed sheets, or pillows. Their changes of uniform and most of their winter gear and extra army gear has been stolen. And we are in serious need of industrial strength cooking utensils. Mostly just metal spatulas, potato peelers and a few other things. Ill check back with my NCOs and see what all we need. We really would appreciate ANY type of help. The PX is sold out of basically everything and will be til who knows when."

I know that this is a lot to ask, but if you could possibly donate anything; toothbrushes, toothpaste, razors, etc often things you can get for less than a few dollars, I know that it would mean a tremendous amount to the men and women overseas who are fighting for us. What better way to give back, especially nearing the holiday season, than to give them basic necessities?

Leave a comment here with your email address and I will send you her APO. Thank you so much everyone!

Dress Dilemna: Need Opinions!

So without time or money like I referred to in my last post, this was all the store had as far as dresses. I don't know if it is appropriate for the Dining Out. I'm stressed out :/

This is the top of it.

This is the full dress. I was wearing shorts underneath so dont mind those.

I will be wearing this with nylons and black pumps/toe peeking heels. Please give me your honest opinion. If it isn't appropriate I still have a few days to figure something out. Thanks ladies!

Dining Out/Military Ball

Every year I know it is coming and every year I get stressed out. This year it is about 3000 times more stressful because its the last one we'll be going to with his detachment, I'm not just his girlfriend anymore, nobody has hired me since I moved back so I have literally no money for a dress.

I'm just really frustrated. Our Dining Out is on November 11th and I have literally NOTHING to wear.

I don't know what to do. URG.

MilSpouse Friday Fill-In #19

Here's another addition of MilSpouse Friday Fill-In! Head on over to Wife of A Sailor and fill out your own!

1. What’s the nicest thing a stranger has ever done for you?
One time when I was working at Subway, this guy tipped $20. I was supposed to split it with everyone else but he saw that I was the only one working while everyone else was messing around in the back. He grabbed a soda cup and stuffed the $20 in it and said "This is for you, go get yourself a drink!"
2. If you are having a hard time going to sleep, what do you do to help yourself?
   
Usually I will read my Blogger feed or Google News. Other times I will call Lieutenant and we'll talk until we both fall asleep.
3. Name something that makes you wish you were a kid again.
I definitely miss being with my grandparents. My grandma was a mom to me up until I was 11 years old (we moved from the area) and my grandpa was my pal.
4. What is something you never believed until you experienced it?
   
I never believed I could have love like this. I know that saying that is completely cliche but oh, its true. Before I met Lieutenant I always felt a hole in my life. Something was missing and nothing could fill it. When I met him, everything was perfect and still is.
5. What can’t you say “no” to?

Honestly, don't come over here offering me chocolate OF ANY KIND. I'm a self-proclaimed chocoholic and so is Lieutenant. We were drooling on the phone today as we randomly discussed how much we were craving chocolate mini donuts.

We all love a man in uniform!

Here's a picture of Lieutenant and two of his former classmates who are now 2nd Lieutenants. This was before his detachment phased out BDUs.

Blah, again?

Last night I was feeling pretty ill so I went to bed around 2100 hrs. Lieutenant called me at about 2130 and I could hardly speak. Yes, yes, I am getting sick again. I guess living with a three year old, a two month old, and two adults can get you sick real fast. My brain is complete mush at this point. I usually only get sick once per season but nooo, this year it has to be different.

Lieutenant has been at the optometrist all day long so he can be cleared of all eye problems. The Air Force demands a certain level of perfection from their officers. That sounds extremely snobby but its basically true. If they're putting down the means (read: thousands of dollars) to train him, he needs to be exemplary. That is exactly why he got Lasik eye surgery. I believe he got it done over a year ago but I'm no good with time lines. All I know is that he paid $5,000 for it so it had better be done correctly. I freaked out two weeks ago when the doctors said he would still need to wear glasses! Luckily today he was cleared with 20/20 vision.

He commissions smack dab in the middle of December and everything is starting to hit me. I've been reading other wives' PCSing mishaps and it makes me want to hide in my closet! I just don't know what is going to happen and that is no good for me. I am half the "need to plan everything" person and half "let's be spontaenous!" When it comes to the military, I am the "need to plan everything" person and well, basically I am being told that its virtually impossible to have everything planned on the first PCS.

It's barely 15:45 hrs over here and I feel like falling back to sleep. (I woke up at noon because I was so sick..) So sorry if this blog is incoherent. Everything is starting to get blurry!

Edit:// Oh in spite of my sickness, I tested out my camera on my nephew. I'm getting better at it, I think.

Still procrastinating!

Here is a survey I found. I have two more assignments and a midterm to due by tonight and I need a break. Feel free to take it and let me know, I'm interested in getting to know you!

Your middle name and how you feel about it.

Nicole. I actually really like my middle name but I don't think it really fits my personality.

Talk about your piercings or tattoos, if you have any.

I have my ears pierced but they probably closed up. I used to have gauges when I was seventeen but took them out before they permanently stretched. I also have three tattoos currently. I know how some people feel about them but I personally love them. They serve as memories and constant reminders to me.

Your favorite television program

I guess currently it is a tie between Glee, Modern Family and Parenthood. Glee is a fun show and I like the musical aspect of it. Modern Family is a funny approach to real life situations and one of my absolute favorites. Parenthood is awesome, just awesome. It puts a lot of things in perspective on how to deal with difficult issues.

Write about your closest friend.

My closest friend other than Lieutenant is deploying to Iraq in one week. She's amazing but sometimes I get sad at the fact that we've really grown apart. She is going to be my maid of honor and that will be the first time I have seen her in a very long time.

Your three favorite colors

Forest green, dark gray and navy blue.

Your favorite season and why.

I really love the Spring. It is just cold enough but not freezing and it is just warm enough but not sweltering. Then the flowers bloom, leaves change, animal friends emerge...Its perfection!

Are you a fitness guru or a couch potato?

I love being a couch potato but I should do more fitness. I have DVDs on my computer for workouts that I haven't touched. I am not the healthiest person, especially considering being in college and being a night owl.

Talk about your pets, or pets you would like to have.

Currently, Lieutenant and I don't have pets. We don't want them until we can fully provide for them. That means food, shelter, a yard to play in and time to spend with them. We know we want Labrador Retrievers as soon as we can have them and we also want a Husky-wolf mix.

Do you have siblings?

I have three sisters and one brother that are my full blood. I have a half sister who belongs to my birth mother that I don't speak to (I also don't speak to my birth mother.) Then I have a step sister that I happily inherited when my dad got married in June. All of my siblings are total clowns and we get it from my dad. We crack stupid jokes, dance randomly, make fun of each other all the time...its a good dynamic.


Your favorite junk food.

Home-made milkshakes. Its my vice. That means Lieutenant has to divert me from the frozen dessert aisle. I'm sooo serious.

The last movie you saw in theaters.

Inception. Oh my goodness that was such an intense and incredible film. I think that I will buy it just to learn more about the story.

The last book you read (for leisure or school)

The last book I read was Our Inner Ape by Francis De Waal. It was interesting to learn how much humans and apes have in common.

Name one place you would love to visit one day.

I would love to visit Ireland. My grandmother's parents immigrated from Ireland and the countryside is so beautiful. Going to Ireland would be a dream come true.

Childrens' names.

Lieutenant and I have talked about this one hundred times but I think that I'll narrow down my favorites.

Girl names:

1. Adriana
2. Kennedy
3. Malia

Boy names:

1. Adam
2. Matthew
3. Michael

The most recent picture of yourself that you can find.

I look crazy in this picture and its another cell phone one. Ah, quiet days at the coffee shop.

The Birthday Blog!

I was procrastinating on StumbleUpon and I found this wonderful blog for children's birthday parties. Ah, I could just hug this woman!

Just click the button below for out of this world creations and fun ideas for you and your family!





Happy baking!

MilSpouse Friday Fill-In #18

1. Are you a night owl or an early bird?
I am a complete night owl. For a lot of college students I know, including myself, we sleep until its 1500 hrs and then we lay around until about 2100 hrs when we finally get to work.
2. What makes you jealous?
This is so trivial but when another woman hits on Lieutenant. They do it very very often. Sometimes its like they don't even see me standing there and they will incessantly giggle in his direction. He tells me I am the only one for him but that ego he's got loooooves attention. Do I have to tape a big "Off Limits" sign on his butt?
3. Have you started Christmas/holiday shopping yet? When will you finish? (There’s only 63 days left!)
......No. Mostly because we are probably not doing Christmas this year. Between Lieutenant's commissioning and us preparing to move, its just too hard to do.
4. What would you have a personal chef make you tonight?
Well since we're going out with friends tonight, the menu is mini corn dogs and chicken wings, so one of those ;).
5. Where was your first kiss?
I had my first kiss in fourth grade, on a dare from our brothers. I know, right? But since that's all well and done, I will tell you about my first kiss with Lieutenant. I was 15 and he was 16, and we went on the Air Force Base for a "date" of BX food and drink. He sat there with his clammy palms and he was so nervous. I asked him to dance with me right in the middle of the food court and he obliged. We left the BX and sat underneath the model jets as the wind blew. God must have been planning that wind because Lieutenant scooped me up in his arms and held me for the first time. When we got to my doorstep we gave each other a hug, looked in each others' eyes and he kissed me. Later on I told him that his first kiss was actually a first slobber because he was SO nervous and that I was literally his very first kiss.

Head on over to Wife Of A Sailor and fill out your own!

Wordless Wednesday (kinda)

The cell phone blogging returns with a surprise from Lieutenant. I love opening the door to this:

Woo, that man is going to give me a heart attack over how handsome he is!

I'm exhausted!

Between midterms and my friend's wedding, I am just exhausted. The other night Lieutenant and I went to the bookstore in an attempt to do homework and ended up spending two hours looking at wedding stuff. We picked out our colors, dark purple and gray. I think that it will compliment his mess dress very well. For a brief idea of what we like, here are some pictures:

 

This is THE dress. Lieutenant and I picked it out together after deliberating (read "nice" arguing) over every other one.

 

This bouquet is beautiful and I fell in love with it. I think I will have it recreated.

While I don't like the feathers on this at all, the colors are what we are going with.

 

Look at this gorgeous cake! The flowers will be a darker purple and the ribbon will be gray.

Now, I HATE the style of these dresses and their bouquets look, well, ridiculous, but I do love the color of the dresses.

Anyway blog friends, you get the first look at my wedding plans, one year in advance haha :)

A quick update.

Lieutenant and I finally got to see each other. To be honest, we argued. A lot. After talking things out and listening to how each other felt, it became easier. He makes me realize a lot of things that I wouldn't have otherwise thought about and he helps me to see alternative ways of doing things.

I can't even begin to explain how hectic things are right now. I am pretty sure I bombed one of my midterms and it is four in the morning here so this is the third week of insomnia that I've had. Let's just say that I am having a bad week and leave it at that. I guess I'll try to sleep now, not much to write about.

Just a quick photo update!

This is Mira, my youngest niece. Its strange how much she looks like Lieutenant and they are not even related!

For reference, here is a picture of him and my second oldest niece.

One of THOSE women.

Okay, so right now I am going to be one of "those" women. The one that complains how much she misses her husband because she hasn't seen him in three weeks. But if I'm being truthful on my blog, I miss him. I miss him terribly. I live across town and between the whole bedbug issue, the school issue and the military, we don't get to see each other.

It has been really hard on us, especially since the engagement stage is supposed to be amazing and I guess we're supposed to move in together, buy furniture, etc. All that stuff is going to have to happen later because we just don't have enough time.

Granted, he isn't deployed yet and I no longer live 500 miles away...but COME ON. It has been nearly a month since we have seen each other. Ugh, it kills me and it kills him. I can't wait until he commissions and we can start our life together.

In other news, he sent me the final design of the patch that he made for the detachment. It looks absolutely amazing and I am so proud of him. Airmen will be wearing this patch for years, what a mark to leave on his detachment. I definitely think, that when we get married and are on our feet, we will donate to the detachment as alumni of the school..and perhaps visit as well.

MilSpouse Friday Fill-In #16

1. What is the longest road trip you’ve ever taken?
   From Las Vegas to San Antonio. It was brutal. I was ten years old, sitting in the very back of the car while the cooler leaked ice water where I slept.
2. Do you collect anything? Tell us a bit about it.
   I really don't collect anything. Mostly because I have nowhere to put it. When Lieutenant and I get our own place, I'll probably collect books (is that even a collection?) and owls. I really love owls.
3. What is your favorite part about being an adult?
   My favorite part about being an adult is still feeling okay when I act like a kid...like when I prank Lieutenant or hide behind a corner and scare him. Other than the fact that I can get married and stay out late, being an adult is not fairing well with me.
4. What song brings a tear to your eye?
   Goo Goo Dolls - Iris
5. Describe your first plane ride (how old you were, where you were heading, etc).
   My first plane ride was when I was two years old and I was in a C-130 heading from Hawaii to Georgia. I don't remember it at all.

Headache!

*Screams into pillow* URG! I hate tech support for two reasons.

1. They do not know the first thing about being technical support. Reading a 10 page manual doesn't make you a genius.
2. They are not supportive! They are drones. My fiancee could fly them. Sheesh.

It all started when my newly acquired internet decided it wanted to take a break. I guess I was on Blogger and Facebook too much... Anyway, so it stops working and I immediately call Belkin's tech support. I get a woman who I can hardly understand who is telling me that my laptop isn't sufficient because I am not running Windows 7 nor do I use Internet Explorer. First off, Internet Explorer, really? No offense to you IE users...but it sucks. I am a diehard Firefox fan. Also, I don't use anything higher than XP because its filled with crap that I have no use for. I don't want extra stupid stuff, I just want a fast computer and XP gives me that.

After she told me that it was me that was the problem, I politely hung up and called the ISP. They too went through the SAME. EXACT. INSTRUCTIONS. My temper started flaring. Of course I kept my cool over the phone because it isn't their fault, so I politely hung up with him and then went and raged into the nearest couch cushion I had access to.

Finally, I decided that I was smart enough to do it myself. Google on my phone was too slow so I decided I would just re-enter the code. This time, against the instructions of two "tech supporters," I entered the code in all caps. Guess who fixed the internet? ME.

Why am I not getting paid for this? I was irritated but now I'm liberated. At this rate, I'll be able to even program a television. Lieutenant will at least take comfort in the fact that I can take care of things whenever he deploys.

Our Story

Lieutenant and I (17;18)

Lieutenant and I met in my freshman year and his sophomore year in high school (2003-2004.) I was a shy but friendly fourteen year old and he was the smart, funny fifteen year old. We met through mutual friends after I joined the Junior Air Force ROTC.

To be honest, we met online! Lieutenant had his own website where he could talk freely with his friends about military stuff or just funny things that they enjoyed. When our mutual friend Q told me to join the website, Lieutenant and I starting emailing each other back and forth and we soon found out that we had a lot in common. When we decided to meet up, we were attending our high school's groundbreaking ceremony (the old school was getting destroyed for a brand new school.) When I met him, I was SO shy and he was SO tall. We continued to talk online everyday but did not see each other during school much other than sometimes a pass in the hall. I would watch him during my lunch breaks because he was the flight commander for his class (leadership skills already! ha!)

The next year I was rezoned for a different school. We vowed to keep talking but I started seeing someone else. After a year and a half, I knew that he wasn't for me but I did learn a lot from it. I told myself to swear off relationships so I could no longer be hurt. But then by chance, Lieutenant came back into my life. We started talking more, seeing each other more and soon became inseparable best friends. We fell in love, completely and wholly.

One year ago my dad planned to move to Arizona to start his life with his second wife after his 19 year divorce to my birth mother. I had nowhere to go because I was in college full time and couldn't afford to live on my own. Lieutenant and I made a joint decision to end our three year relationship until he commissioned. We both knew it was best to get life experience before we married each other. While we knew that we were "soul mates" we also needed to make a very important decision. Lieutenant saw other people and I focused on school and spending time with my family. We both learned a lot from taking our break.

On August 13, 2010, Lieutenant and I sat on a Naval Air station beach on the coast of California. This came after my decision to move back home until he commissioned. That was the night he proposed. We don't know what is in store for us but we know that it will be wonderful and amazing. Our history together and our choices have only made us stronger and I know that our love will last a lifetime.

Internet!

Okay you guys, I have been SO deprived of internet until today. We were using Cricket wireless and dear lord was it slow! So this is just a quick update exclaiming my joy for having super fast internet. Life is good.

Bad camera blogger.

Wow, I have had an outpouring of support these last few days from the blogging community. Let me just say I appreciate it! Lieutenant keeps telling me not to be nervous but I am. Its such a big change. Especially since during the move and wherever we go, I'll still be a full time university student. I'm about a year away from getting my Bachelor's degree in Psychology. Since I lived with my dad and he owns a home here, I can still claim it as my house. Okay, so technically I'm cheating the system but come on, out of state cost add ons are outrageous!

Other than school, if you don't remember, I am staying with my brother and his fiancee until Lieutenant commissions. It saves us money and it also gives me time to spend with my nephew and my now one month old niece. Let me just say, I'm a cell phone photographer. I can never get my act together enough to charge the battery to my Kodak Z812 IS. Its not a perfect camera but its got some mega HD video!

So in the mean time, while I figure out where my unlazy-bone went, here is picture of Mira, my youngest niece.

P.S. All the new followers...I love you and thats so exciting haha!

Non-mantra-like day

Well let me just tell you, college is putting me through the ringer! I stay up until the wee hours of the morning....the time when I'm supposed to be waking up and you know, being productive. Does that happen? Nope! I wake up at five-o-clock at night! What in the world?! I just keep telling myself, "Mrs., its just eight more weeks. Only eight. Just two more months of this." Is it working? Sure it was, up until the point when I realized when that eight week mark hits, I will literally not be sleeping. At all. Ever.

Okay MAYBE I'm exaggerating but silly me, I forgot that after school is over, I have to get married and we have to move wherever the Air Force decides we need to go!! Please, for the love of everything that is good and holy, I pray that we don't get sent to the northern part of the country. Non-stop snow, less than productive population. I won't say where but I'm pretty sure you can guess.

My head is spinning. How did you get through those first few months pre-marriage, PCSing?

Also, for my lack of pictures, here is one of my future MIL. She is beautiful!

The not so happy-go-lucky moments.

What do you guys do when you're having an argument with your husband? With Lieutenant and I, it can either be very simple or very difficult. As much as we want to be "the perfect couple" (That's hilarious!) we understand that we're really not.

I'll admit that a lot of the time I can be a hothead. I get it from my dad who was in the Army for seventeen years. In my opinion, the way he raised my siblings and I was the Army way. If we got out of line, my dad would make sure we knew that he meant when he said we were in trouble. Since my dad was a single parent from the time I was two up until last June, I completely understand why he'd be a hothead. I mean, if I had to raise five children...under ten...ALONE, then I'd be one too. Oh yes, I would have no hair left on my head and I'd have wrinkles to boot.

Fortunately for me, Lieutenant is patient and understanding (when he wants to be!) and he basically goes into the "uh huh" mode when I start going off on a tangent. Then he waits until I calm down and we talk through it. That is how we have made it through all these years and it is how we will make it forever. We offer full explanations on why we feel the way we feel and then we help eachother figure out a solution. I am so blessed to have a peacekeeper as a fiance. If he were a hothead like me, it'd be one outrageous relationship.

Friday Fill In!

Woo! My first Friday Fill in! Join in over at Wife of A Sailor

1. What is the silliest get-up you have ever worn outside of a Halloween party? (from To The Nth)
Silliest? Hmm well I was a zombie a couple of years ago. No, that doesn't sum it up...I was...a pregnant zombie....of triplets. Maybe subconsciously I was telling myself I needed to hold off on children!
2. What is something that you gave up in order to live the military lifestyle? (from Pennies from Heaven)
I guess the main thing that I am giving up is being able to live close to my family. We're all pretty tight knit and having to move so far from my sisters and brother and my nieces and nephews....well it sucks. But I talked to Lieutenant who said I could fly out whenever I wanted.
3. If money wasn’t a factor and you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be? And why? (from Life and Times of a Displaced Jersey Girl)
I would definitely go to Alaska. Lieutenant and I want our honeymoon to be an Alaskan cruise and its my goal to hike to a place where I can see the northern lights.
4. If you were going to join the military, what branch would you join? Or which MOS/rating would you choose? (from And You Never Did Think)
Back when I was in high school I was in Junior Air Force ROTC. I wanted to be a nurse in the Air Force. After high school, I seriously considered joining the Air Force and doing some type of work in psychology. Now if I were to join the Air Force I would wait until I got my degree in Psychology and then work towards combating PTSD and helping servicemen and women who need an outlet.
5. What is your favorite thing to make for dinner? (from Armendinger Party of 4)
Unfortunately I have never had the opportunity to cook for Lieutenant since we don't live together yet. However, we did make a mean homemade vodka and tomato sauce for our chicken and bowties. But Lieutenant is a huge fan of meatloaf and any type of dessert. And well, that excites me. I can't wait to cook for us!