Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Room by Blessed Room

I have another boring room for you today.  It must be easier to do the boring rooms :)  So, without further ado, may I present...the upstairs bathroom:
So fresh and so clean clean!


La toilet accompanied by news and parents magazines


Check out those shower knobs!! I use a grand total of one of them :)


There's our sparkly bathroom in all her glory! I think this is the cleanest it has ever been.

Monday, March 28, 2011

I'll Tell You A Secret

Just so we are clear, I have not given up on cleaning/decorating my house.  I cleaned Baby Girl's room, but ran out of frames! Grrr!! So I did not want to post pictures until it's finished.  I did, however, buy a rug for the foyer and I LOVE it so here's a picture of that. 



That, right there, is my favorite color I'm pretty sure.  I have tons of clothes that color and that was the color of my bridesmaids dresses.  I think it is called wine or something. 

Ok, my secret for this week is: I wish I could have natural childbirth.  I'll tell you right now I won't.  But I wish I was strong enough to try.  I'm not.  Honestly, there is no debate here.  When (I am saying when, not if because I have hope) I get pregnant again I will be getting an epidural in a hospital with a MD.  But I do love the thought of a water birth with my husband.  It just seems so romantic and more life changing somehow.  My husband would NOT got for a water birth!! I am laughing just thinking about asking him.  And I respect him enough that I wouldn't make him.  He would meet me in the middle-like going natural, but in a hospital.  He is very overprotective of me and out daughter already!  And I love him for it :)

Anyway, I am a wuss.  If my cousin sees this, I am in big trouble because she will try to convert me and I really don't think I can do it! I don't know why, but I don't even want to consider it because then I'm afraid I'll decide to do it and I just don't want to feel that much pain.  What I ultimately wish is that I had a gigantic threshold for pain like my mom.  But, like I said, I am a wuss.  A big wuss.   There's my secret, but don't tell my cousin!! :):):)

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

I should have been born Amish

Yesterday morning me and Baby Girl took a walk and my breath was literally taken away as we rounded the corner to a display of God's Glory.  The German countrysde is beautiful.  I think we stood there staring at the fields with the sun rising and the mountains in the background for at least 10 minutes.  I just could not get over it.  It looked like a Norman Rockwell painting.  Anyway, it reminded me of olden days which makes me think of the Amish and whenever I think of the Amish I always think "I should have been born Amish".  I think about the simplicity of their life and it seems so peaceful.

And, I know, I would miss things.  I would really miss my dishwasher.  I would miss music and my fiction books.  I would miss Felicity :)  If you never had any of that stuff then you wouldn't miss it though, right? My confession of the day is that I am jealous of the Amish.  Maybe you think they get bored, but they live in a community where there is always someone to talk to or chores to do.  Not to mention that I have a computer and  TV and an almost one-year-old and I stay bored most of the time.  In fact I am extremely bored right now which is why I am writing about wishing I was Amish :)

Monday, March 21, 2011

Army Baby

OH MY GOSH SHE IS SO STINKIN' ADORABLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Room by Blessed Room

Up today: Foyer and Entryway...seriously one of most exciting rooms in the house.  (Sarcasm in case you missed that).


Here is what you see when you walk in the front door (kitchen on left, living room on right, 1/2 bathroom straight ahead).  That picture on the floor will soon be on the wall.  And, unfortunately, that stuff under the stairs has to stay there until I hang up more pictures, make a goodwill/thrift store drop off, and find somewhere to dump a broken microwave



There is our front door :)  If it looks funny, that is because there is a front door with a little room with a shoe rack and a closet for coats and then another set of glass doors leading into the foyer


1/2 bath
View from the top of the stairs
And, this, dear readers, is our "totally awesome window" that of course is too high for me to clean but it is so cool!  When I walk down the hall at night I can look at the stars through it.  Many trips to the bathroom get postponed due the the distraction :)

So, today I swept, mopped, did the windows, mirrors, and dusted this part of the house.  I have already done 1/2 of the downstairs and 2 out of 8 rooms in the entire house.  Not too shabby.  Actually, if you know me, you know that is really quite excellent :)  Next I think I am going to do Baby Girl's room.  I am leaving the really hard rooms until the end....you know I'm trying to do strenth training (people who work out: does that make sense?  I kind of just heard that term somewhere but am not sure what it means! :):):) )

I know this post is kinda boring, but I spent time cleaning so I had to show off.  Plus, no one has seen our place so I can't leave out the boring parts!

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Room by Blessed Room

I am going to show you my house.  I have been here 3 months and still haven't put everything away and still haven't hung pictures on the wall.  My parents are visiting April 22nd.  Hubs comes back April 12th.  I am determined to make this house a home room by blessed room.  SO, in order to help motivate myself I am going to post as I go, room by blessed room :)

First up: Kitchen! It is my most essential room so I thought I would start there.  I worked on the kitchen for multple hours today.  Yes, hourS.  I am the man.  I not only cleaned it, I organzied it and hung up pictures. 

So, enjoy the virtual tour!

This is the view from the entry

View from the laundry room

View from the big window

View from the fridge :)  You can see our foyer on the left and the door on the right leads to the laundry room.  The outside view is our walkway leading up to the house and some yard


So, there's our kitchen! Hope you like it.  I'm pretty happy with it.  Coming soon...The entryway and the Foyer! Woo hoo!!

Green

Joy of Luck Day 2: Green is also symbolically the color for newness, new beginnings, spring and life. Today I want you to find the green – this can be ANYTHING that is either the literal color green OR something that brings newness, new beginnings, life, or hope to an otherwise dismal situation. Look at your day not as a series of hurdles/problems, but as a blessing! We are SO lucky for all that we have. Capture this with your lens!  Key Word: Green




Here is a green froggy with my baby daughter.  She doesn't feel that new to me, but she is still new to the world.  Almost one! (Holy guacamole...really?? I mean, really?!?)

My green rejects:




Thursday, March 17, 2011

To finish or not to finish

It's not actually a debate.  I am not finishing the blog challenge.  You know those people who say "Once I start a book (or a movie or a project or whatever), I have to finish it"?  I am not one of those people.  I used to be that person in high-school.  It seems the older I get, the more laid back I get.  Is that backwards or normal I wonder.  Anyway, I am that person no more and the Blog Challenge is now dead. 

In it's place is Joy of Luck.  Maybe you heard about Joy of Love going on back in February?  I did not partake in that (a month is too long of a commitment for me).  However, the Joy of Luck is only a week...I think.  Something like that.  Basically, you get daily emails from Kelly McWillette of Willette Designs. Within these emails are prompts to photograph different aspects of your life.  If you want to join in, here is the link: Joy of Luck.

Now, I have to forwarn you that I am a really bad photographer.  I take good pictures of people smiling at the camera and that is it.  I am not creative nor do I understand lighting or angles.  So, now that you've been forwarned, I hope your expectations are nice and low. 

Joy of Luck, Day One Prompt: What inanimate object/thing/concept is something that you take for granted on a daily basis? What would someone who is not as fortunate as you are say about your “luck” to have such a thing in your life? Think about your blessings today – (don’t focus on people for this one…that will come later)…focus on opportunity/experience/something you have/do EVERYDAY that is an unforeseen blessing in your life. Key word : GIFT


Kelly always shows you her photo as well to give you an idea I suppose.  She showed a picture of a book to represent her education.  I also have a picture of a book, which I did not steal from her.  As soon as I read the first sentence and before I saw her picture, I knew I would choose books.  It does kind of look like her picture, but that can't be helped.   I took several pictures and this one was the best one. 

Here are some my failings:




 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
So, books.  I am basically obsessed.  I read every day and could read all day if given the chance.  I watch TV while I eat and fold clothes.  Any other free time, I read.  Books are my escape which is sometimes bad, but not so bad that it is an issue.  I never ignore the Hubs or the Baby to read.  I am pretty anal about putting my family before my books.  I learned that lesson already when me and Hubby first got married ;-)  Having the ability to read, for me, is absolutely priceless.  It is something I take for granted, but if it was taken away, my heart would seriously break. No joke.
 
Ok, Joy of Luck done.  Now I am going to post a picture of books just because I want to. 

Starting in the top left position going clockwise we have:
Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare (I am a sucker for Fiction)
all of Jane Austen's novels (that is the English major in me escaping)
The Enchantress of Florence by Salman Rushdie (one of the three books I'm currently reading)
Five Silly Monkeys (Baby Girl's current favorite)
Adam Bede by George Elliot (one of my favorite "classics")
Extraordinary Parents by Lynn Fielding (I devour parenting books)

And, last but not least I will leave you with a picture of Baby Girl because she is SO DANG CUTE (If I were a cussing girl I would say the bad D word because she really is friggin' adorable).



Wednesday, March 16, 2011

BC: Days 6, 7, 8

Blog Challenge Day 6: A photo of an animal you'd love to keep as a pet


This is a chinchilla and I L-O-V-E chinchillas.  That is a little fact most people don't know about me.  I friggin' love chinchillas!! I want one as a pet so bad.  For those of you who know Hubs, when we are back in America please remind him that this would make an excellent birthday gift and would score him major, major points for a really long time :):):)  I especially like this picture because this chinchilla is a bit overweight like my fat cat Phoenix :)

Blog Challenge Day 7: Your dream wedding

Ummm....no thank you.

Blog Challenge Day 8: A song to match your mood

I chose Jeremy Camp's song "There Will Be A Day". GORGEOUS.  I love it.  Here is the chorus:

There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place, will be no more, we’ll see Jesus face to face

But until that day, we’ll hold on to you always

I chose this song because currently, some very precious people in my life are experiencing the following: death of a parent, maritial separation, infertility, and miscarrige (that last one is me of course).  I just think about those words and I truly believe them.  I hurt for my friends and I long for the day with no more tears or pain.  I truly do long for Heaven.  I don't think I would miss anything on earth if I went to Heaven right now.  But, anyway, the song goes on to say that "We'll hold on to you always" meaning God of course.  But Jeremy Camp says it like a declaration, which I love.  It is not a question.  In my mind it is a very emphatic "We WILL hold on to you ALWAYS"...like no matter what happens, God, I will forever cling to you because you are good and I trust you.   Oh man, if you haven't heard it you should go to You Tube right now because it is so awesome.


Blog Challenge found at: http://ciaobellablog13.blogspot.com/2010/11/30-days.html


Thursday, March 10, 2011

BC Days 4 & 5

I am smashing days together now because I fear I am already slacking on this 30 day blog challenge. 

Day 4: Your favorite photograph of your best friend.

Well, of course, I don't have just one best friend.  And, of course, my husband is my ultimate best friend.  But since I already have 4 besties, I am going to leave him out this time.  But my official stance is that Hubby is the BEST best friend I could ever ask for. 

 Ok, onto my besties (who will be listed alphabetically by their 1st names which you don't know) :)

Teacher Bestie:

This is my most favorite picture of Teacher Bestie...so far.  I am planning on being BFF's with her, well, for forever so a different picture might surpass it later.  It is actually tied for 1st with another picture of us where we are holding our babies, but 4's a crowd.  Anyway, in this picture we are on a train in Europe.  Every time we took a train ride (and we took a lot!) we always tried to sit next to each other.  Like, we would actually scheme how to do it without hurting anyone else's feelings. Some of the best (and hardest) years of my life have been spent with this girl and I MISS her SO much!

Red Bestie and Fancy Bestie:

These girls have been my best friends since 2001!  But, actually, if feels like we've been sisters all our life.  They are AWESOME.  This picture was obviously taken on my wedding day (February 2008).  It is in a series of pictures I took with them and I love all of them so much.  It was so hard to decide which one to pick.  I love this picture for so many reasons.  I know you don't know them, but this picture emulates them so so well.  Fancy is actually fancy, which is why I call her that.  You can guess which one she is now that I've told you she is fancy, right?  And Red does have red hair in this picture which I know you can't see.  I tried to revert the picture back to color, but Snapfish keeps giving me an error message. Anyway, her short funky 'do is totally her personality and she is always changing her hair!  I also love this picture because I'm all glammed up :)  (I mean, I am a girl after all albeit a low maintenance one!) If I have "rocks" in my life, these girls definitely qualify! 
 
Mama Bestie:
   
 
Yep, my mom's my best friend.  I'm lucky, I know :)  I hope one day my Baby Girl will say the same thing about me!  This picture was taken in California a couple of years ago.  My mom is my biggest fan and I have never ever doubted she loves me and would do anything to help me.  She is also one the funniest people I know (her and Teacher Bestie both love an audience for telling hilarious stories)! Oh my gosh, that woman can get me giggling in no time flat!  Sometimes, we make fun of my dad (to his face-I promise we just tease him, we aren't actually being mean!) and I just cannot get a hold of myself.  I am laughing right now just thinking about it!  I love her!  
 
 
Blog Challenge Day 5: A photo of yourself two years ago.
 
 
I cheated because it's my blog and I can do that!  In this picture, you not only see an old photo of me, you can see a picture of my ultimate Best Friend...my husband!  He is perfect...for me that is :)  He is everything I'm not-patient, self-sacrificing, unafraid, and emotionally calm.  If my best friends are my rocks, then he is my boulder.  LOVE HIM!!! 

Blog Challenge found at: http://ciaobellablog13.blogspot.com/2010/11/30-days.html 

Tuesday, March 08, 2011

Show and Tell

Mrs. Yellow Ribbon asks: What are some words or phrases you use all the time? What about words you made up or words you use to refer to something and people look at you like they have no clue what on earth you're talking about?


1.) redonkulous-used in place of ridiculous.  Got this one from Hubby


2.) Hoodlum-Nickname for Baby Girl (I'm gonna have to stop saying this once she starts talking!)


3.) Oh, shite-I use this to prevent myself from cussing


4.) Oh, mother-See explanation for #3


5.) All jacked up-used when something is all messy, broken, not doing what I want it to, etc.


6.) Wee Beasty-another nickname for Baby Girl.  Got this one from Scott Westerfeld


7.) Are you wacko? -This one is pretty self-explanatory :)


That's all I can think of!  Join in the fun and link up over at Mrs. Yellow Ribbon!

BC Day 3

Blog Challenge Day 3: Your idea of the perfect first date

Since I, hopefully, won't ever have to go on a "first" date again, I am going to do my idea of the perfect date with my husband.  Right now here in Germany.  I could pretend to be in Jamaica, but I am going to stick with reality on this one. 

Sleep in late.
Surprise flowers on my nightstand.
Lots and lots of yummy deliciouso coffee while Hubby makes breakfast.
All-day babysittter. 
Long morning walk holding hands.
Lunch from a sandwich stand (unless we are full from breakfast...then just lemonade)
Hubby takes me to Weiden and buys me jewelry.
Afternoon trip to IKEA just to browse.
Back home to get dolled up.
Dinner at a surprise restaurant that Hubby picks out.
Wine with dinner. 
Lay my head on Hubby's shoulder the whole way home because the wine made me sleepy.
Get Baby Girl who squeals with delight to see us and gives us lots of kisses.
Back at home content and happy.

Blog Challenge found at: http://ciaobellablog13.blogspot.com/2010/11/30-days.html

Monday, March 07, 2011

BC Day 2

Blog Challenge Day 2: A photo of something you ate today.


I did not take this picture, but it is a picture of oatmeal.    I eat oatmeal almost every day.  I cook it on the stove and put peanut butter and jelly in it.  Yum. Yum. Yum.

Blog Challenge found at: http://ciaobellablog13.blogspot.com/2010/11/30-days.html

Sunday, March 06, 2011

Blog Challenge:Day 1

Ok, during my routine blog jumping today, I found a fun blog challenge that I am going to attempt to take part of for 30 days.  Here is how my jumping went today: 

First, I went to Kathlyn's blog.  She linked to Amy, who then linked to Jessica who had the blog challenge!  So it's 30 days of pictures to post and/or stories to tell.  Some days I may post twice, some days I may *ahem* skip. 

Here's Day One: A photo of yourself and a description of how your day was

This is a picture of me and one of my 2 friends in Germany :)  It was taken on New Years Eve.

Today I woke up, or rather, I was woken up by my sweet Hubby at 7:45.  Sweet Baby Girl followed suit and re-woke me up at 8.  So I nursed Baby Girl (these days will be over so soon. sad face) and then went downstairs to feed her breakfast (yogurt, tahini, and squash).  Put Baby Girl in her pack n' play while the Hubs and I read our bibles and drank coffee and hot tea (coffee for me, tea for him).  Gave Baby Girl a bottle and put her down for nap #1.  Hubs took a shower while I picked up the living room. 

After his shower, Hubs started to pack because he went to the field for the week.  While he did that, I made a birthday sign for one of his army buddies whose birthday is today.  Who, by the way, is turning 23.  Yes, he is just a wee babe ;-)  He has a little flat screen in his bedroom and he told me and Hubs that he had it since High School.  Ummmm, flat screens didn't even exist when I was in High School! 

At 11:30 I woke up Baby Girl and fed her some lunch (cereal, squash, and some turkey sticks) and another bottle.  Then Hubs and I went over to army buddy's place to hang up birthday sign and drop off a chocolate cake I made last night.  He wasn't at home so we had to get creative.   Well, if you can call leaving it on the porch creative :)

Dropped Hubs off at work at 1pm and headed back home.  Flitted around the computer a bit while Baby Girl played in the floor.  At 2, I put her down for nap #2.  Then, I folded some laundry, watched some Friends that my mom sent me, and flitted around on the computer some more. 

Woke Baby Girl up at 4:15pm (that kid loves to sleep!).  She got a bottle and then played on the floor some more.  I played with her and also read a little bit.  Fed her dinner at 5 (cheese, apple puffs, banana).  Fixed myself some dinner while she was eating (chicken on the George and couscous).  Gave Baby Girl a bath and then went downstaits to watch some more Friends.  Gave Baby Girl her fourth and final bottle.

At 7, got a text from Hubby asking if I could come get him.  Bundled up Baby Girl and went and picked him up (which I was really excited about because I thought it meant he was spending the night at home.  Nope.  I was wrong).  He just had to run home and get something and then he took the car back. 

Nursed Baby Girl and put her to bed and now I'm doing this!  After this I will probably watch some more Friends, read some more and go to sleep.  :)

Ah, the life of a rock star.

Saturday, March 05, 2011

I'll Tell You a Secret

I think I might make this a regular posting because I have lots and lots of secrets in me.  It's cathartic to get stuff inside of you out in the open.  And, kinda fun :)

Today, my secret is................................................... (duh duh dum)...........I don't like being an army wife.  Ok, ok, before people start hatin' on me, let me explain.  I dearly love my husband and I would follow him anywhere.  He followed God into the army and I am not going to argue or fight against that reasoning.  I am here and I am dealing with it, but I don't like it. 

I read army wife blogs and I really love reading them.  I love reading them second only to book blogs which says quite a lot since books=oxygen to me.  They write about their husbands, their children, their duty stations, deployments, moving, etc.  It is very interesting and even when I'm not an army wife anymore, I will probably still continue to read them.  The one thing I notice about all of them (at least all of the ones I read) is that they love love love being army wives.  Really???  I mean, really???  I can see being proud and going with the flow, but they genuinely seem to love the army life.  I wish I was there.  I am not and if I'm being honest, I don't see myself getting there until at least post-deployment...if then. 

The thing is,however, that I am an army wife right now. Right now, this very second, I am a wife to an active duty soldier in Germany.  SO, that leads me to believe that God must want me to be a happy army wife.  Except happy isn't the correct word.  Because I am happy.  I love my husband and my daughter and my home and even being in a foreign country isn't so bad now that I'm used to it.  Being happy is not the problem.  It's is more like the difference between surviving and thriving.  I can survive as an army wife.  I've certainly survived worse.  But, I am not thriving as an army wife.  I am biding my time.  I am looking forward to the day when Hubby can "quit" the army and we can have a "normal" life.  (And, yes, I know there is no such thing as a normal life...but you know what I mean, right?  A settled life, a life that involves home owning and getting to know your neighbors because they will be around for more than a year or two). 

This is a secret that goes unsaid most of the time because if you are in the army you are supposed to love it I guess.  You are supposed to smile and say "It's ok that I never see my husband.  It's ok that I feel like a single mother most weeks.  It's ok that I've left everything behind I love just so that I watch my husband work his tail off for no thank you.  It's ok that his job bleeds into our familiy like he's hemorrhaging."  Just keep smiling! Just keep smiling!  

Do army wives really love it?  Or do they just blog about their good days I wonder. I know everyone has bad days, but I am not having a bad day.  I have felt like this for months now.  I don't hate it, but I certainly don't want to do it for 20 years either!  I am not strong enough to be an army wife.  That is my conclusion.  I am too dependant on my man and too lonely without my family.  I know that's not really true because God put me here so I must be able to thrive somehow, some way

I hope y'all don't think I hate my life.  I really don't!!  I am not depressed or anything.  I am just trying to figure out why the army wives I see on the Internet seem to love the military life and I don't.  Maybe they have been in the military longer so they have come to terms with it.  I only have 2 real life army friends so I don't have much to compare.  And, it's an issue I don't see addressed openly anywhere. 

Ok, enough jibber jabber.  I've got a baby to feed.  Hope you have a blessed weekend!  Hubby is at work now, but I'm hoping he'll be home for dinner! 

Friday, March 04, 2011

A little sugar to start your day :)

This is a video of Baby Girl playing in the mirror.  It is one of her favorite things to do so I thought I better caputre it before it's to late!

This video is me, unsuccessfully, trying to get her say "Ba". I watched this video on our TV before I posted it and when in the video I say "Can you say Ba?" real life Baby Girl calls out "BA!!" Of course. They certainly don't perform on command :)




And, this is a picture of baby curls. Is there anything else sweeter?


Thursday, March 03, 2011

Bucket List

I found another thing for my bucket list.  I wonder how do-able (is that a word?) one's bucket list is supposed to be.  I wonder if people put things they really want to do, but probably may never or if they put things they probably could do if they tried hard enough. 

Well, today, mine (hopefully) falls in the latter category.  I want to be a better housekeeper.  I have several things going against me in this goal.  Main one being my personality.  I am Type B (is there a Type B?  I only ever hear about Type A, but I assume there is a B as well?).  I am a laid back chica mostly.  There a few things that I'm particular about...but, you know what, not one thing is coming to mind!  Hmmmm...I bet my husband could tell you something I'm anal about, but I can't think of anything.  I'm anal about not pumping my own gas! :):) Jokes! Just jokes.

Yes....back to that which is against me in reaching my goal.  I did not have chores as a child.  I thank you, mama, for always taking care of me, but now I don't make my bed.  Or vacuum.  Or scrub floors.  I do, however, do the laundry!  I also wash dishes every day.  I guess everyone does, but man, never ending dishes! (It also needs to be said that I take good care of my daughter.  She is not as neglected as my bed)

Also, I am self-indulgent.  Oh yes, I do not have that problem some people have of "never sitting still".  I can sit still and read for 5 hours.  No problem.  I actually do feel guilty when I do that, but apparantly not guilty enough to get my bum off the couch. 

So, what's a girl to do?  This week I have made small strides.  One "area" at a time seems to be working for me.  A room is to big of a goal so I have been focusing on "areas".  Judge me if you will...but know that the Bible tells you not to judge anyone ;)  On Tuesday, I cleaned the toilets (BOTH of them).  Wednesday, I kicked some butt in the foyer and cleaned the floors and put everything away and cleaned the rest of the downstairs bathroom (it took me at least an hour).  Today I cleaned off our dining room table which was covered in Ka-Rap.  So far, this is the best method I've come up with for myself. 

However, I am hoping one day to be more like my Fancy Bestie who keeps a perfect home :) I don't know that I'll ever get there, but...maybe?  :)