I got this text message from Hubby about an hour ago (while I was getting the boys haircuts... btw, so friggin cute):
"Going to stay late tonight. Have to do urinalysis and work on a paper. Won't get to the gym til 5."
(Which means, he'll probably be home around 7, 7:30)
After I read that, I was really bummed. I mean, not home for dinner?? That sucks. Then I remembered something. When Hubby was on the sub in the shipyard, he wouldn't come home until 1am, then have to get up at 4am for work the same morning! The entire time he was on the boat, I couldn't say that I honestly expected him home for dinner any day, with the exception of baby leave.
Oh my god, I'm going soft on shore duty! Duh, he's in the military- any time he can make it home for dinner is a plus, not a given. Wow, I feel so spoiled now.
I suppose I should enjoy it. After all, once we're back on sea duty, I can just kiss family dinner time good-bye. As a d-head, I don't expect him to come home at all, especially (heaven forbid) if he's an Eng. YUCK. But at the same time, I don't want to be that whiny wife who gets used to having her hubby home, then bitches about duty days and deployments. I wanna keep my perspective! At least, until retirement. :)
10/20/10
Got cute kids??
I don't want to come across as a stage mom, but the Gap is having a kids' casting call. You can enter your kid at http://www.gapcastingcall.com/. There are some seriously adorable kids out there!
Now please don't think I'm going to push the boys into becoming Derek Zoolanders (although they both have Blue Steel down pat). I never want to be the kind of person that takes something like this seriously. I vote for all my friends' kids, because it's something fun to do, not because I'm competitive (okay, maybe not competitive about this). I want everyone to enter their kids because maybe, someday they'll up as Gap models, and that would be cool. But I don't think everyone has to get all eye-gougey about it... which is a little of what I'm seeing....
So enter your kids. If I know you, I'll send the links for mine, too. After all, there are semi-finalists that win some pretty cool prizes, even if your kid doesn't win a grand prize. So the way I see it, it's a win-win. :) Oh, but hurry, because I think the deadline to enter is this Friday.
Now please don't think I'm going to push the boys into becoming Derek Zoolanders (although they both have Blue Steel down pat). I never want to be the kind of person that takes something like this seriously. I vote for all my friends' kids, because it's something fun to do, not because I'm competitive (okay, maybe not competitive about this). I want everyone to enter their kids because maybe, someday they'll up as Gap models, and that would be cool. But I don't think everyone has to get all eye-gougey about it... which is a little of what I'm seeing....
So enter your kids. If I know you, I'll send the links for mine, too. After all, there are semi-finalists that win some pretty cool prizes, even if your kid doesn't win a grand prize. So the way I see it, it's a win-win. :) Oh, but hurry, because I think the deadline to enter is this Friday.
10/18/10
Giveaway
For the past few years, I've lived in states where autumn has been a disappointment. I'm from NH (duh) where the leaves turn vibrant colors, there's a cold snap in the air, and the smell of fires in the fireplace lingers inside and out. I miss crunching leaves under my feet, bundling up for a haunted hayride, and taking a weekend drive on the Kancamagus.
What's a NH girl to do?
For the past several autumns, it's been in the 70s or 80s and not a red, orange, or yellow leaf in sight. There's no brisk snap, no fireplace fires, no crunchy leaves. So I did the only thing I could think of: buy as much Yankee Candle seasonal candles as I could in my most favorite scents (they even have one named "Fireside"!). My faves include Autumn Leaves and Macintosh Apple.
What is your favorite fall Yankee Candle?? Leave me a comment with your favorite fall scent and why you like it, and you can win a large jar candle in that scent! The winner will be announced Fri Oct 22 5pm EST.
What's a NH girl to do?
For the past several autumns, it's been in the 70s or 80s and not a red, orange, or yellow leaf in sight. There's no brisk snap, no fireplace fires, no crunchy leaves. So I did the only thing I could think of: buy as much Yankee Candle seasonal candles as I could in my most favorite scents (they even have one named "Fireside"!). My faves include Autumn Leaves and Macintosh Apple.
What is your favorite fall Yankee Candle?? Leave me a comment with your favorite fall scent and why you like it, and you can win a large jar candle in that scent! The winner will be announced Fri Oct 22 5pm EST.
A fall weekend
This past weekend was a lot of fun for all of us. Hubby started Saturday by participating in this race on base- he ran three miles then biked for nine. After the race was done, we all went up to the Gilroy outlets and dropped some serious cash on new clothes for the boys. The Christmas outfits are... well, so stinkin' cute. I won't describe them because they look so much better in person. Just ridiculously cute.
Once we came home, we chilled out with the boys (who were decently good for a one and two year old at shopping outlets), then watched Sports Center and SNL. I love SNL and I wish I could stay up to watch the whole thing, but I'm a friggin' old fart now and had to turn the TV off right after Weekend Update. How boring am I?
Hubby took a large dose of Nyquil that night. Everyone in this house has gotten sick, except for me. I'm pounding the Airborne like crazy because I can't get sick. It's just not possible for me to stay in bed with these two little guys running around.
Sunday was a good day, even though it rained all day. I actually liked the rain- we need it badly, and there are just some days where the rain feels refreshing and calming to me. We cleaned up the outside of the house- LB was a huge help! He picked up a broom and helped me sweep the leaves off the patio! Once JC was up from his nap, we took everyone to the Whole Enchilada, which is this great farm stand in Moss Landing. We were looking for some ingredients to make a little something for Christmas gifts- I won't give it away. :) But since LB was being just absolutely angelic, we also got him some chocolate covered peanuts and caramel. I thought he'd love them, but that little bugger licked the chocolate off, then handed me the caramel and peanut mess. Ha.
Once we got home, we began our project. However, it took WAY more time than we originally thought, so we ended up tripping over each other in the kitchen while I made dinner (spanish scallops baked in white wine, holy cow, so good). Hubby later pointed out that even though there were a million things going on at once and very little space, we didn't snap at each other once. I thought that was a pretty cool observation. :)
We bought a pumpkin at the farmstand, but didn't have time to carve it, so that's on the agenda tonight, along with some apple cider we also picked up.
I friggin' love weekends like this. Not just the shopping, but being all together and everyone enjoying each other's company. And having the house smell like whatever-we-were-working-on (I'm not giving it away!!) was a huge plus. Very autumn. :)
So there you go, in case you were wondering what NHGirl's fam was up to. I'll have to post pics of the pumpkin tomorrow, and maybe share my scallop recipe- seriously good.
Once we came home, we chilled out with the boys (who were decently good for a one and two year old at shopping outlets), then watched Sports Center and SNL. I love SNL and I wish I could stay up to watch the whole thing, but I'm a friggin' old fart now and had to turn the TV off right after Weekend Update. How boring am I?
Hubby took a large dose of Nyquil that night. Everyone in this house has gotten sick, except for me. I'm pounding the Airborne like crazy because I can't get sick. It's just not possible for me to stay in bed with these two little guys running around.
Sunday was a good day, even though it rained all day. I actually liked the rain- we need it badly, and there are just some days where the rain feels refreshing and calming to me. We cleaned up the outside of the house- LB was a huge help! He picked up a broom and helped me sweep the leaves off the patio! Once JC was up from his nap, we took everyone to the Whole Enchilada, which is this great farm stand in Moss Landing. We were looking for some ingredients to make a little something for Christmas gifts- I won't give it away. :) But since LB was being just absolutely angelic, we also got him some chocolate covered peanuts and caramel. I thought he'd love them, but that little bugger licked the chocolate off, then handed me the caramel and peanut mess. Ha.
Once we got home, we began our project. However, it took WAY more time than we originally thought, so we ended up tripping over each other in the kitchen while I made dinner (spanish scallops baked in white wine, holy cow, so good). Hubby later pointed out that even though there were a million things going on at once and very little space, we didn't snap at each other once. I thought that was a pretty cool observation. :)
We bought a pumpkin at the farmstand, but didn't have time to carve it, so that's on the agenda tonight, along with some apple cider we also picked up.
I friggin' love weekends like this. Not just the shopping, but being all together and everyone enjoying each other's company. And having the house smell like whatever-we-were-working-on (I'm not giving it away!!) was a huge plus. Very autumn. :)
So there you go, in case you were wondering what NHGirl's fam was up to. I'll have to post pics of the pumpkin tomorrow, and maybe share my scallop recipe- seriously good.
10/15/10
MilSpouse Friday Fill-in #17
1.What are some things on your bucket list? (from New Girl on Post)
Visit Italy, especially Genoa.
Watch my boys grow into men.
Learn to speak italian.
2.How long have you been a MilSpouse and where have you been stationed so far? (from Raising Roscoe)
I've been a milspouse since 2004, although Hubby and I have been together since 1998. After we got married, we were in Oxford OH (for college- hooray for STA-21!), Charleston SC, Groton CT (I stayed with my parents in NH and he lived in the BOQ), Portsmouth VA (what a sh!t hole), Pearl Harbor HI, and now Monterey CA.
3.What is a list of songs that sums up your life so far? (from Confessions of a Sailor’s Wife)
Graceland, by Paul Simon
I Only Have Eyes For You, by The Flamingos
My Life, by Billy Joel
Tonight, Tonight by the Smashing Pumpkins (no real significance, it just reminds me of high school)
*This was a really tough one!
4.What is your favorite kind of pizza?
I really like BBQ chicken, or hawaiian, but sometimes there's nothing better than a slice of plain cheese from Sal's.
5.What are three good things in your life right now?
My hubby, LB, and JC. :) I could count them as one if I just said "my family", so other good things would be my extended family and GA. And if I counted all of them as family, then my top 3 good things in my life right now would be:
My family
My car
My Swiffer, with dry and wet refills (seriously one of the best inventions, I friggin love it)
If you are a milspouse, head on over to Wife of a Sailor to link up and participate!
Visit Italy, especially Genoa.
Watch my boys grow into men.
Learn to speak italian.
2.How long have you been a MilSpouse and where have you been stationed so far? (from Raising Roscoe)
I've been a milspouse since 2004, although Hubby and I have been together since 1998. After we got married, we were in Oxford OH (for college- hooray for STA-21!), Charleston SC, Groton CT (I stayed with my parents in NH and he lived in the BOQ), Portsmouth VA (what a sh!t hole), Pearl Harbor HI, and now Monterey CA.
3.What is a list of songs that sums up your life so far? (from Confessions of a Sailor’s Wife)
Graceland, by Paul Simon
I Only Have Eyes For You, by The Flamingos
My Life, by Billy Joel
Tonight, Tonight by the Smashing Pumpkins (no real significance, it just reminds me of high school)
*This was a really tough one!
4.What is your favorite kind of pizza?
I really like BBQ chicken, or hawaiian, but sometimes there's nothing better than a slice of plain cheese from Sal's.
5.What are three good things in your life right now?
My hubby, LB, and JC. :) I could count them as one if I just said "my family", so other good things would be my extended family and GA. And if I counted all of them as family, then my top 3 good things in my life right now would be:
My family
My car
My Swiffer, with dry and wet refills (seriously one of the best inventions, I friggin love it)
If you are a milspouse, head on over to Wife of a Sailor to link up and participate!
10/13/10
Updating. I might be done some time this year.
You may have noticed that I'm switching around a few things on this blog. Or maybe you didn't. Whatever. I have a neat little separate box for my milspouse ladies.
The reason? I hate the "follow" feature. Despise it. Loathe it. I never access my dashboard on a daily basis, and I'd rather see the new posts right there on my homepage, sooooo buh-bye "follow". I'll still follow people, just to show some love, but that's the only reason I'll use it.
Also, I'm thinking of changing my background. And uploading an actual picture of myself instead of this kinda-looks-like-me avatar.
This blog just needs a little bit of housecleaning, so bear with me. It's gonna take awhile, mainly because the intelligent side of my brain is completely shut down from dawn to dusk, and instead the 1-2-3, primary-color-lovin' side of my brain is in overdrive. Not conducive to anything requiring a brain cell.
Case in point, that last paragraph took me about ten minutes to type. I just can't think with the whining and all the noise that comes with two little boys at play.
So stay tuned. Promise I'll try my best to get this all straightened out. Also, I'm still thinking of a giveaway, but that will be its own separate post.
The reason? I hate the "follow" feature. Despise it. Loathe it. I never access my dashboard on a daily basis, and I'd rather see the new posts right there on my homepage, sooooo buh-bye "follow". I'll still follow people, just to show some love, but that's the only reason I'll use it.
Also, I'm thinking of changing my background. And uploading an actual picture of myself instead of this kinda-looks-like-me avatar.
This blog just needs a little bit of housecleaning, so bear with me. It's gonna take awhile, mainly because the intelligent side of my brain is completely shut down from dawn to dusk, and instead the 1-2-3, primary-color-lovin' side of my brain is in overdrive. Not conducive to anything requiring a brain cell.
Case in point, that last paragraph took me about ten minutes to type. I just can't think with the whining and all the noise that comes with two little boys at play.
So stay tuned. Promise I'll try my best to get this all straightened out. Also, I'm still thinking of a giveaway, but that will be its own separate post.
10/12/10
Random Tuesday Thoughts
I checked our accounts this morning and decided to do a little organization to see where our money has been going. First, I created categories, then listed each charge or purchase or payment into each category. Then I took it a step further and put it all in Excel. Then, since I clearly don't have anything else to do, I calculated the percentage of the paycheck each category used. Then, because I'm a huge uber-geek, I made a pie chart. Yeah, I'm cool like that. I emailed it to Hubby titled, Oct Budget Analysis Report. I'm pretty sure he's having second thoughts now.
I just Freudian-slipped on the keyboard and started typing "sex" instead of "second".
Our place is getting really Halloween-y. We have pumpkin lights strung in the kitchen (which LB loves) and luminaries and candles on the mantle. Very cool.
I have a doc appt today. Do you think JC would nap? Do you think since it's noon and he usually falls asleep at 11am that he'd be tired? Noooooo. Yet again, I'm going to be that crazy lady with the two crazy kids that nobody wants to deal with.
Pumpkin Cranberry Muffins, courtesy of my dear friend Betty Crocker:
2 cups flour
3/4 cup sugar
3 tsp baking powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
1 cup dried cranberries
Heat oven to 400. Grease 12 regular sized muffin cups with shortening (I find Pam sucks for this kind of stuff) or line with baking cups. Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, and salt (sidenote: Betty does not believe in the Oxford comma... that wench). Stir in pumpkin, oil, eggs, and cranberries until just moistened. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups. Bake 20 to 25 minutes. Remove muffins from pan to cool. Here's what mine looked like (I, uh, ate one... then LB snuck one, which is why there are only ten):
I loath the word "moist". Gross.
Another Freudian slip, I typed "sin" instead of "cinnamon". Wow, what is wrong with me?
A good friend of mine said that she looks to me and Hubby for inspiration when she's feeling stressed being a new mom. I'm totally flattered... and scared, at the same time. I'm definitely not without my faults! But if my occassional-single-parenthood-due-to-the-Navy helps her, then I'm glad at least some good comes from it! ;)
Dammit, we're almost out of olive oil... I think I may need a new cookbook, one that is titled "What To Cook When Your Cupboards Are Bare or When You Need To PCS (aka, Move)".
Head over to The Unmom for more RTT.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
