So after avoiding the blogging scene for years because of being intimidated by the whole thing - many blogs seem (not as a critisism to anyone, I just don't have to0 much to offer on just one subject) single focused - directed towards either family life, crafts, business etc. None of those single categoies seem to fully encompass the topics I'd like to address.
There was also this overwhleming stress of thinking I needed to capture EVERYthing that is me in one place...I am releasing that and jumping in! It may be scattere and random and touch on all sorts of things but that's me so oh well!
Living with things you LOVE. Old Junque with a story. New Jewels to make your home sparkle.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Las Vegas Anniversary Trip
[caption id="attachment_122" align="aligncenter" width="1024" caption="My hubby & I in Las Vegas"]
[/caption]
We had one heck of a trip for our anniversary this year!!! Jon & I have missed being together the past 2 years on our anniversary since he was deployed so we had to make up for those lost celebrations. So for our 7th wedding anniversary we took off for VeGaS!!!
We flew direct from XNA to Vegas on Allegiant Air's first flight which started off things right. "Elvis" gave away free t-shirts and decks or cards as we boarded the plane and there was even a showgirl there to greet us at the airport. We were so excited to get there! We arrived in Vegas about 10pm and took the shuttle down the strip to our hotel. The strip is so amazing and alive with all the lights and people and excitement, it was the perfect time to arrive. We were blessed with a anniversary gift of a swanky suite at the Palazzo for our stay which was so awesome. The views were of Treasure Island, the pools and strip. It couldn't have been any better!
I won't give a play by play of the entire weekend but just some of the highlights...
One of our families favorite things to do, especially me being in the food business, is try new restaraunts. Vegas did NOT dissapoint with providing tons of options for dining at new places. We did sushi for lunch one day at RA in the Fashion Show Mall and it was amazing. Great music, staff and vibe along with the BEST sushi we have ever had. Jon ordered their special Las Vegas roll which was better than any desse
rt you'll ever have! For an appertizer we had these one of a kind Spicy Pineapple Cream Cheese Wontons which I am now struggling to re-create at home. Anyway try RA for sure if you are into Sushi.[gallery columns="2"]
My favorite place we ate the entire time was Yolos, in the Planet Hollywood Hotel. It was an upscale and super yummy mexican restaraunt. They had superior Chips and Salsa that were so beautifully presented as well. I ordered street tacos that were dIvINe! We MUST eat there again when we go back.
Overall, out trip to Vegas was a great trip exploring a city together just Jon and I. We have been together for 9 years total and 7 years of marriage...of course they haven't been perfect but I wouldn't want to share my life, or this trip with anyone but him. He's the best! I am so blessed and lucky (since we are talking Vegas) to be able to call him my husband. He is a great husband, always seeking to make me happy, but he's also an awesome dad, man of God, provider and a great soldier.
[/caption]We had one heck of a trip for our anniversary this year!!! Jon & I have missed being together the past 2 years on our anniversary since he was deployed so we had to make up for those lost celebrations. So for our 7th wedding anniversary we took off for VeGaS!!!
We flew direct from XNA to Vegas on Allegiant Air's first flight which started off things right. "Elvis" gave away free t-shirts and decks or cards as we boarded the plane and there was even a showgirl there to greet us at the airport. We were so excited to get there! We arrived in Vegas about 10pm and took the shuttle down the strip to our hotel. The strip is so amazing and alive with all the lights and people and excitement, it was the perfect time to arrive. We were blessed with a anniversary gift of a swanky suite at the Palazzo for our stay which was so awesome. The views were of Treasure Island, the pools and strip. It couldn't have been any better!
I won't give a play by play of the entire weekend but just some of the highlights...
One of our families favorite things to do, especially me being in the food business, is try new restaraunts. Vegas did NOT dissapoint with providing tons of options for dining at new places. We did sushi for lunch one day at RA in the Fashion Show Mall and it was amazing. Great music, staff and vibe along with the BEST sushi we have ever had. Jon ordered their special Las Vegas roll which was better than any desse
rt you'll ever have! For an appertizer we had these one of a kind Spicy Pineapple Cream Cheese Wontons which I am now struggling to re-create at home. Anyway try RA for sure if you are into Sushi.[gallery columns="2"]
My favorite place we ate the entire time was Yolos, in the Planet Hollywood Hotel. It was an upscale and super yummy mexican restaraunt. They had superior Chips and Salsa that were so beautifully presented as well. I ordered street tacos that were dIvINe! We MUST eat there again when we go back.
Overall, out trip to Vegas was a great trip exploring a city together just Jon and I. We have been together for 9 years total and 7 years of marriage...of course they haven't been perfect but I wouldn't want to share my life, or this trip with anyone but him. He's the best! I am so blessed and lucky (since we are talking Vegas) to be able to call him my husband. He is a great husband, always seeking to make me happy, but he's also an awesome dad, man of God, provider and a great soldier.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Deployment Letter
Sunday, August 5th
Dear Jon,
So first of all I cannot believe it is August and Kaia is headed back to school tomorrow. In many ways this year as slipped right past me, but in others it has drug on and on. You being away from me has been the longest 4 months of my life I think. It is just still hard to go thru the day without my best friend. I have these moments when I am just sad that you aren’t here to help me carry in the groceries or silly stuff like that. Not that it sucks to carry in the groceries all by myself but the fact that we have built this life together and you are my best friend and I just want you to be here with me. To do the silly stupid stuff and the important family stuff too. We miss you and I know you are doing your best to get back to us as soon as you can but it still hurts to be away from you.
I hope you are enjoying a lazy Sunday afternoon. It is crazy that you slept in until 8 something. I wouldn’t think your body would allow you to after being so programmed to wake up. I actually got to sleep until 9 which is the first in a long time. We are usually up before 8 to get to the gym. Tomorrow will seem like an early day getting Kaia up and ready for school. She is pretty excited I think and I am interested to get to know her teacher and stuff. I signed up to be the home room mom, there will be another one too so hopefully we can be more involved at the school this year. I think once you get home and things get back to normal for Kaia’s little world she will do really well in Kindergarten. We have already talked about the fact that I don’t want her to get sent to Mrs. Blair’s office so she better behave etc. I am sure it will happen at some point, I will just be happy if it happens LESS than last year.
Anyway, I am going to talk to you soon so I will go for now. I have to get all the thanks yous for Kaia’s birthday done and in the mail before it gets to be too late. I love you honey and I can’t wait until you are back home - where you belong!
Love, me
Dear Jon,
So first of all I cannot believe it is August and Kaia is headed back to school tomorrow. In many ways this year as slipped right past me, but in others it has drug on and on. You being away from me has been the longest 4 months of my life I think. It is just still hard to go thru the day without my best friend. I have these moments when I am just sad that you aren’t here to help me carry in the groceries or silly stuff like that. Not that it sucks to carry in the groceries all by myself but the fact that we have built this life together and you are my best friend and I just want you to be here with me. To do the silly stupid stuff and the important family stuff too. We miss you and I know you are doing your best to get back to us as soon as you can but it still hurts to be away from you.
I hope you are enjoying a lazy Sunday afternoon. It is crazy that you slept in until 8 something. I wouldn’t think your body would allow you to after being so programmed to wake up. I actually got to sleep until 9 which is the first in a long time. We are usually up before 8 to get to the gym. Tomorrow will seem like an early day getting Kaia up and ready for school. She is pretty excited I think and I am interested to get to know her teacher and stuff. I signed up to be the home room mom, there will be another one too so hopefully we can be more involved at the school this year. I think once you get home and things get back to normal for Kaia’s little world she will do really well in Kindergarten. We have already talked about the fact that I don’t want her to get sent to Mrs. Blair’s office so she better behave etc. I am sure it will happen at some point, I will just be happy if it happens LESS than last year.
Anyway, I am going to talk to you soon so I will go for now. I have to get all the thanks yous for Kaia’s birthday done and in the mail before it gets to be too late. I love you honey and I can’t wait until you are back home - where you belong!
Love, me
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Autism Sucks
So we had the school talent show last night which went well as far as the performance part. Kaia was so cute, all dolled up with make-up and she waited to go on stage perfectly with her class up in the balcony. She knew the whole dance and did great up there – I was so proud. Mom videod and I took pics. Kaia told me that evening she was nervous when she saw the crowd but you couldn’t tell! However, after the show was over was a different story.
The last number was a teacher finale and they released a bunch of balloons at the end. She really wanted to have a balloon and by the time I figured out what she wanted and we got to the stage they were all taken. Major melt down. Right in front of the auditorium, in front of the principle and assistant principle…crawling in the corner…totally embarrassing. I got her to walk out, half chasing her into the parking lot. Hearing several kids comment about how Kaia always gets so MAD at school. I finally had to throw her over my shoulder and pack her out to the car. Sweating my butt off and huffing and puffing.
It sucked all around.
I just kept you were there to help me, so I wasn’t dealing with the situation on my own. She is almost too big for me to pick up like that so I don’t know what I will do. It scares me to think of what she is going to be like when she gets older. Her temper is getting worse and I don’t know what to do.
The last number was a teacher finale and they released a bunch of balloons at the end. She really wanted to have a balloon and by the time I figured out what she wanted and we got to the stage they were all taken. Major melt down. Right in front of the auditorium, in front of the principle and assistant principle…crawling in the corner…totally embarrassing. I got her to walk out, half chasing her into the parking lot. Hearing several kids comment about how Kaia always gets so MAD at school. I finally had to throw her over my shoulder and pack her out to the car. Sweating my butt off and huffing and puffing.
It sucked all around.
I just kept you were there to help me, so I wasn’t dealing with the situation on my own. She is almost too big for me to pick up like that so I don’t know what I will do. It scares me to think of what she is going to be like when she gets older. Her temper is getting worse and I don’t know what to do.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Iraq Pics
Getting stuff from my hubby is like Christmas, even photos are so awesome! Thought I would share a few.[gallery columns="2"]
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Too much for too long
I feel like a wimp as I know so many other wives have gone thru deployments and made it. Not with a smile on their face the entire time, but they were able to stand on their own two feet and take care of everything, support their husband and be mommies for their kids.
But I CAN'T DO IT!
I have really tried...I have gotten up every morning, gotten my little girl to school, put on the happy face in public, sent off the care packages and cried alone but I am not sure how much longer I can do this.
It is SO hard.
I miss hom SO much.
This may be TMI but here goes.
He's been gone a year already. With Basic, AIT and now deployment. Since last May I can count on my hands the number of times he has been home. It's hard hitting the one year mark. A year without him, my best friend, my love, my "person".
I made it thru Basic and AIT fine. I knew he was safe, and excited and I was so proud of him for making an unconventional decision to follow a dream of his, even though he was 26 years old and had a family already. I support him 100%. I can honestly say though neither of us fully processed the possibility he would deploy, especially so quickly. Then finding out the DAY HE GOT HOME from AIT that he was being deployed! There's no elequoant way to put it - it sucks! Deployment is hard for everyone, but piled on top of being apart so much beforehand, it's too much for me.
It's hard to be hopeful that our lives will ever get back to "normal" when I can hardly even remember what it was like to have him here. I know the damage that has been done can't be fixed. My poor baby girl has a mommy who is sad or mad all the time. She needs a chance to be a 6 year old, have someone to take her fishing and to ride a bike. I try but with the burdens I am carrying I can't get passed the sadness to even pretend sometimes.
Not to mention myself, I have given up my career - my sense of identity and importance. Staying home along all the time is painful and isolating. Where are all my friends? Where is the family that says they love me? They don't know, they don't ask...I don't think they truly care. Care that I am miserable, along and dying inside.
But I CAN'T DO IT!
I have really tried...I have gotten up every morning, gotten my little girl to school, put on the happy face in public, sent off the care packages and cried alone but I am not sure how much longer I can do this.
It is SO hard.
I miss hom SO much.
This may be TMI but here goes.
He's been gone a year already. With Basic, AIT and now deployment. Since last May I can count on my hands the number of times he has been home. It's hard hitting the one year mark. A year without him, my best friend, my love, my "person".
I made it thru Basic and AIT fine. I knew he was safe, and excited and I was so proud of him for making an unconventional decision to follow a dream of his, even though he was 26 years old and had a family already. I support him 100%. I can honestly say though neither of us fully processed the possibility he would deploy, especially so quickly. Then finding out the DAY HE GOT HOME from AIT that he was being deployed! There's no elequoant way to put it - it sucks! Deployment is hard for everyone, but piled on top of being apart so much beforehand, it's too much for me.
It's hard to be hopeful that our lives will ever get back to "normal" when I can hardly even remember what it was like to have him here. I know the damage that has been done can't be fixed. My poor baby girl has a mommy who is sad or mad all the time. She needs a chance to be a 6 year old, have someone to take her fishing and to ride a bike. I try but with the burdens I am carrying I can't get passed the sadness to even pretend sometimes.
Not to mention myself, I have given up my career - my sense of identity and importance. Staying home along all the time is painful and isolating. Where are all my friends? Where is the family that says they love me? They don't know, they don't ask...I don't think they truly care. Care that I am miserable, along and dying inside.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Anniversary
June 1st, 2008
Happy 6 year Wedding Anniversary to the love of my life!
[caption id="attachment_358" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="My love in Iraq"]
[/caption]
I had to admit it has been a tough day to spend without him, and I have had way too much time on my hands to reminisce and sulk all day. I’ve tried to scrapbook but couldn’t get motivated so mostly I have been eating the pain away today – lotsa chocolate chip cookies. But no matter how hard this day is, we have a great life in-spite of the current circumstances and being separated for the most part of the past year. We have an amazing love and friendship that is enduring and even growing and thriving thru this deployment. I just wish he was here today, and every day to hold in my arms and to give kisses to show you how much I care about him. Rather than sending another letter…it’s just not right!
Honey, I trust you to love me for a lifetime, to never betray me or my trust, to put my needs above even your own, to never run from me. I trust you like no one else in my life, past or present. It’s a vulnerable state to be in. I can’t lose you. Please realize you are holding my heart and that it’s fragile and you have to honor it in all your actions. I don’t know what to say other than that, I come with baggage – and now it’s yours to carry too.
Happy 6 year Wedding Anniversary to the love of my life!
[caption id="attachment_358" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="My love in Iraq"]
[/caption]I had to admit it has been a tough day to spend without him, and I have had way too much time on my hands to reminisce and sulk all day. I’ve tried to scrapbook but couldn’t get motivated so mostly I have been eating the pain away today – lotsa chocolate chip cookies. But no matter how hard this day is, we have a great life in-spite of the current circumstances and being separated for the most part of the past year. We have an amazing love and friendship that is enduring and even growing and thriving thru this deployment. I just wish he was here today, and every day to hold in my arms and to give kisses to show you how much I care about him. Rather than sending another letter…it’s just not right!
Honey, I trust you to love me for a lifetime, to never betray me or my trust, to put my needs above even your own, to never run from me. I trust you like no one else in my life, past or present. It’s a vulnerable state to be in. I can’t lose you. Please realize you are holding my heart and that it’s fragile and you have to honor it in all your actions. I don’t know what to say other than that, I come with baggage – and now it’s yours to carry too.
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