Update on the Home Front

To update ya'll on the DFW home front, we have opted out on the house and focused on finding an apartment. We figured that it would be easier to find and move into an apartment. The next day J found two choices and we discussed it together and picked a one bedroom apartment that is close by to the base.

So now I'm constantly looking around on Pinterest for decorating ideas. Our floorplan shows that we will have a large open living space and I immediately thought of a rustic theme for it.

Here are a few ideas I have in mind.

I am loving the idea of a coffee bar for guests and myself. I have so many mugs and doing something like this would save space in the kitchen.

 

I have an old blue suitcase like this that I used for my wedding and it would be wonderful to incorporate it into my home in some way. Look out for a DIY post for this!

 

The apartment is supposed to have a fireplace. Stacking firewood like in the photo above will definitely give it a rustic feel to it.

 

To add a little country flair a whiskey bottle lamp will be another fun DIY project.


What do you guys think? Any other ideas/suggestions to make a living space rustic but cozy too?

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Today is the day to stop and take a moment to be thankful for all our blessings. Back in the day it was the day to be thankful for a good harvest and the feast was a symbol for it. Now we feast with family and friends.


Here is my thankful list:


1) God

2) Family

3) Love and Compassion

4) My Husband

5) My New Home in Fort Worth

There's many more that I'm thankful for but the list will take all day so I'll just leave it here.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Trials and...Oh, Snow!

Well, we're not any closer in finding a home in Fort Worth. We DID find a house we both like but yesterday we realized that we will be struggling to afford it so we agreed that an apartment would be our best bet.

We found an apartment complex close to the base that we love so hubby will be talking to them today.



In other news, it's snowing here in New Mexico!!! Woke up Sunday morning to powdered snow all over the place.

 

My cat went straight outside when I was taking photos and two seconds later she ran right back inside. So we are now taking the opportunity to relax and enjoy the snow. 

Getting Real

After about a week and a half of looking J and I think we've found a house that's up for rent that we love. It has a lovely kitchen, lots of space, and a good location.

It's dawning on me lately that we will be living in a house and I will be working again. This point in my life is the official moment when I join the real world as an adult. Sure I've lived on my own before but I was in college and living close by to my parents. It didn't have that "adult in the real world" feel to it. Now that I'm done with college and married, it feels more real, more daunting than I've ever felt.

Does anyone know what I'm talking about? Any 'real world' moments?

Things Don't Always Go As Planned

The other day my hubby checked in with his superviser and found out that we were possibly being diverted to Seymore in North Carolina. J and I flipped out because we, as individuals, are planners. We like to check out the place ahead of time to see what's all there and we have already looked at houses in Dallas online. So we felt that we had the rug pulled from under us. Totally unexpected.

Thankfully J's commander stepped in and they decided to keep him in Dallas. All day yesterday we were pins and needles. It was a lesson learned that things will not always go according to plan, especially when it comes to the military. Orders pop up saying you're going to such and such but the next day you could be on the opposite side of the world. I've learned that a lot of times in the military world you just have to live it day by day. It's difficult to plan ahead because the government can mess it up in a heartbeat.

In a way, I also felt that God was saying, "Hey, just to remind you, I am in complete control. I can put you wherever I see fit."

You're right, Lord. You are in control and I'm grateful for it.

Sisters For Life

This past weekend I had the chance to visit my sorority sisters and got to catch up with a few girls. I cannot stress enough how amazing it is to be a part of something that is consistantly bigger than yourself. It feels so good to be in a group that gives so much to its community. I've learned so many life lessons in my sorority as well and I would not have grown to be the woman that I am now if it weren't for my sorority. It has given me confidence, my voice, and my strength.

Visiting these girls again made me remeber all the good times and the bad. I know that I would relive it all over again if given the chance. It is my home away from home and these amazing girls are my sisters for life. Call me corny but that's the truth. I would not trade them for the world. I've even grew to love a few new members as well.

As an alumn I feel it is my privelage to watch over our 'home away from home' from afar, to make sure it is still thriving and that our traditions are passed down.

I am proud to be a Chi Omega.

My Love For Bulldogs

I found this video (link below) via Facebook and I knew I had to share this. This cheered me up because it reminded me why I loved bulldogs. They have so much character and such loving personalities. You can't go wrong with them.

http://youtu.be/FGJxDlYHC-s

I grew up with one when I was very little (try 2 or 3 years old) and Charlie was my best buddy. I fondly remember one fall my brother and I raked leaves in one big pile in our back yard. After that we would have Charlie chase us into the pile and we would laugh how crazy he would get crashing into the leaves. Unfortunately bulldogs don't live as long as most other breeds but that just makes you appreciate these guys so much more.

It is on my bucket list to own a bulldog again someday. I've already come up with names: C.J (Charlie Jr.) for a boy, and Betsy for a girl.

Baby Training Day 1

Yesterday was basically the beginnng of baby training and it didn't start that well. Let me explain first of the situation. My mother's cousin has a baby girl but circumstances (that I don't want to explain) has arisen and the mother has given her daughter to my parents for temporary guardianship. It's been four months now since baby Ray has been in our lives and she's a wonderful blessing, boogers and all.

Back to yesterday, I took up to watching Ray while my mom had to run an errand real quick. Just about ten minutes later Ray had a very poopy diaper. This is my first diaper change...EVER. I've seen my mother and loads of other moms change diapers so I thought I was going to be fine. Nope.

When my mom got back and I told her I did my first #2 diaper she congratulated me, until around dinner she noticed something wrong with Ray. She turns to me and said, "You put it on backwards." Insert palm to forehead. My first mistake at being a temp mommy.

Another moment happened with Ray. She's been having a stuffy nose and mom and I were trying to clean out a particularly large booger out of her nose. It doesn't help that Ray fought us. Eventually I got the booger out and I gaged at the sight of it. So. Freaking. Gross.

Yep, I'm totally not ready to be a mommy. First order of business is to make my stomach out of steel.

I'm Home

I was never more happy to see the lizard carpet at the El Paso Airport Tuesday night. I am finally back in American soil! It's weird to start driving again and I've been feeling nervous behind the wheel but I need to drive so that I'll be comfortable when we leave for Fort Worth.

I'm borrowing the folk's computer right now since I've left the laptop with the hubby so I won't be posting much for the next week or so but I'll try to say hey or something.

23

I am 23.

It's such a weird age, 23.

It's past the point of legal drinking age but it's not considered "too old" either. It's just...simply 23.

As I have mentioned before my husband was thoughtful to buy tickets to Switzerland but I turned it down for a little more quiet birthday. This morning he made me cinnamon rolls and turned on my favorite movie for me, Breakfast at Tiffany's. It was a perfect start on my day of birth. I'm inviting a few friends over tonight for one last hurrah before we take off. We'll say our farewells and well wishes and toasts.

23, what a weird age.

No Recipe For You

No recipe today. To be honest I haven't been cooking a lot since J and I are close to leaving. We've stocked up on ramen, hot pockets, frozen dinners and pizza; just enough food to keep us until I leave.

Five days from today I'll be heading back home and I've been on an emotional roller coaster. I'm thrilled, excited, nervous, scared, and sad. As much as I love the friends I have made here in the UK and I'm going to miss them dearly but I'm in need of family. I am ready to hold my niece in my arms again and nap with my cat, chatting with my mom, and catching up with my dad on the latest episode of Big Bang Theory (we're Sheldon fans).

Birthday Surprise, Change of Plans

All weekend J has been giving me hints, via Facebook, what he's doing for my birthday. Hints included snow, mountains, frank, and cheese. The moment I was given cheese I knew it had to be Switzerland. I guessed right. He was going to take me to Zurich, Switzerland. It was amazingly thoughtful of him since he knew I've been wanting to go back to Switzerland.

But the plane tickets were for four days, the 8th-11th. My issue is that I'm leaving back for the States on the 12th and I started to sweat at the thought that I'm on a plane on the 11th and the next day I'm on a plane all day. I really didn't want to go through that.

As much as I wanted to visit Zurich, I know that it's expensive there. I've looked at hotels and rentals for cheap but it became difficult. Right now, it's probably not the best plan to go since we're in the middle of moving out of the country and looking for our future home in Fort Worth. The last thing I want to do is spend money on a four-day weekend when we can save up.

I was nervous about telling J that I didn't want to go. I always hated confrontations but I know that he would rather have me tell him. So I did. I was afraid he would be upset but I found out that the plane tickets didn't cost much. "So what do you want to do for your birthday then?" he asked me. "I am very happy to go to dinner or have friends come over and we can do a birthday/going away party." The later sounds more fun.

Thank you J for the sweet and thoughtful gift. It meant a lot to me that you wanted to take me back to Switzerland. You always aim to please me and I am blessed to have a wonderful husband like you. I love you Superman!

Have you ever changed plans on your birthday?

Conveniences

Not that England is a bad country to live in. I love their farmers markets and greenery. As a child of the south(and I mean a hop away from the border south) I'm not used to seeing so many trees and green stuff. but I have to admit I miss a few...conveniences that America possesses.

I miss...

Taco Bell being open at 3 AM

$6 movie tickets

TARGET!!!

shopping at stores in the US dollar currency (and not at the BX)

driving (we can only afford one car and honestly I'm scared of driving these roads)

living in a city

calling my friends

REAL Mexican food

McAlister's sweet tea (YUM!!!)

my niece sleeping over

my cat snuggling in the space between me and my laptop


Yeah, I think I'm ready to head home.

Crunch Time

I have about two weeks until I return home and its getting down to the wire for the hubby and I. I've been packing a few things away that I don't need, we're looking up a future home, and hubby has been working on getting us set up (on the military side of things) before we depart. It's a little stressful but keeping in mind that we're going back to the US helps us keep trucking on.

Please keep us in your prayers or thoughts and that things will smooth out.