My Heart Has Grown Fonder

So I have been absent from the blogging world for over a month now. I've been following everyone but not really been in the mood to share my life with anyone. The last month has been a hard one. First there was good news and then about two weeks later the bad news started coming and it didn't stop until last week. We are both still reeling, for personal reasons I'm not going to go into details.

Unfortunately it was my first experience with any bad news and no husband there to help. Hopefully I managed gracefully and came out a stronger person. I geuss we won't know until something else happens and trust me I'll avoid that at all costs.

When Eric did come home, chipper and well rested, from the second phase of Ranger school I to lay all this stuff on him. I'm so proud of us! We made it through and didn't kill each other. I am still looking for the positive in all of this. I'm sure it will come around eventually.

One more phase of Ranger school to go!!! So excited and proud of E! He is doing so well and continues to amaze me everyday. I'm one lucky girl!!

It's gone to the Dogs!

Talley is in that cone, somewhere. She has had mange for the last month and is not getting better. In fact after much medication she is getting worse. And so I had to put a cone on her. I choose this one because she does most of her damage during the night, so I figured putting it on her only at night it should be comfortable enough to sleep in. This was the best option, it's all soft and pillowy. However she doesn't feel the same way I do. She is still laying like that ignoring me, I had to put her on the couch (her normal lazy spot) because she can't jump with it on apparently haha.

Now the little one. He likes to hide. Particularly wherever the clean laundry is being kept, in this case near the kitchen table.

Or last week the corner of the bedroom. What a cute little booger!

Dear week, please go faster.

This week has been going by pretty slow, I have to say I'm disappointed. I can't wait for Friday to get here!!! I have changed my plans and will be heading home a little earlier than expected but that's a ok with me...especially after hearing people yelling at each other just yards from my bedroom window on Sunday evening....

I have a rant. I think it is rude to invited people to a wedding and then tell them how many people they can or cannot bring. It's not a plated dinner. And no I didn't try to bring 10 people...I requested in a timely manner (like the day after I got my invitation) to bring one extra person. I think they should also consider that people will be unable to come leaving space for other people. It is a holiday weekend after all.

I have all of my things packed and ready to go. E's things are sitting on our bed. My original plan of bringing one suitcase is not going to happen. Since I will in TX for two months and he will only be there for 3 weeks....whew it's just a lot of stuff, especially when you count all the dog stuff.

Gotta keep cleaning!!!!!

Week two is OVER!!

Very excited to say that week 2 of Ranger is OVER!!! One more week until I get to see my sweet sweet and I'm sure all too skinny and hungary husband. I misssssssss him so much!! (how am I ever going to live through the deployments whew!?!)

I have a Christmas gift for him. I know I know it's super early there are still weeks until Christmas but I have to give it to him now!!! I can't wait any longer, I hope he likes it! I hope he jumps up and down and just loves it!

Not that I really expect him to do that sort of thing, becuase he has never done in his life but it would be really cute if he did.

Or else he might throw it at me...which I really hope he doesn't haha.


My day just took a turn, like right this second. Florida scored another touchdown....South Carolina was sooooo close to taking a lead. GOSH DARN IT!

Heres to hoping Utah beats TCU!

Productivity is a blessing!

It has been raining non stop here!! It's really just the pits, started around 9:00 last night and is still raining now. Really makes for some unhappy puppies, they have to swim every time they go out of the door haha.

Since Eric has been gone I have been starting my day late late late. I'm talking not doing anything until after lunch late. I keep telling myself it's because I'm feuling up for the long drive home in two weeks. I also keep telling myself it's becuase I stay up really late. When he is home we go to bed around 9pm or earlier, mostly because he has to wake up so early. However when he isn't home I go to bed wheneven I feel like it :).

So starting the day late makes it feel really productive becuase I get everything done in just a few hours. Today was no exception. First I took care of some cleaning, then made the trek to Auburn to pick some things up at Academy. It just baffles me they don't have an Academy here...at home there are three just in the Austin area....my choices around here are Auburn or Macon...Auburn wins obviously it's just closer!! Then I made my way to Wal Mart for some wrapping materials, and finally the post office. Everything I send Eric at Ranger has to be sent, well ok doesn't have to be sent but they recommend it be sent, priority so that it gets there on time. In addition I had to wrap my box, which was full of baby shower things for my dear sister in law! Her shower is on Saturday so it had to be sent 2 day express.

Whew it was an afternoon! Not to mention I did it all battling the rain!!

I am so happy to say I picked up a gift for my sister for Christmas. That means I have some of Eric's gifts, and one of my sisters. Next week it will be time to get serious about the gifts.

I'm no excited that tomorrow is Wednesday, things always speed up after that!! And this weekend is full of fun things to do...why do I have a feeling next week will be the longest week of my life? hahah

Four down,seventeen to go....

It's only been four days and I am incredibly bored. There is so little to do when Erice isn't around. I find myself watching wayyyyy too much t.v. I can't wait until he calls, I'm hoping, praying and keeping my fingers crossed that he will get the chance to get to a pay phone this weekend. (and hoping he remembers the phone number, you may be laughing but I married a man with a very very bad memory and he has forgotten my phone number before...since we've been married. :) )


And my poor baby dog... :( he has worms. I know this is a completely unappetizing subject so I won't go into detail but let me just say it was like the stomach flu in a puppy. He has 3 different types and is now highly medicated....he is fast asleep on my lap after a quick romp with sister around the house.

Wow. Eric left for ranger school yesterday and it already feels like a lifetime ago. I didn't cry, I haven't cried. I've been hanging out here at home with the puppies and relaxing, going to try to start working out a little bit tomorrow. We'll see how that goes.

I can't wait for this all to be over, it's just a test of my patience. It wouldn't be quiet so bad if I could at least hear his voice over the phone. I hoping and keeping my fingers crossed that he might have the chance to call next week. They put a phone card on the packing list and he was told he would be able to use a pay phone at some point in time.

We'll see.

I received message today that he passed him PT test, tomorrow is land navigation and then a retest. (not sure what that is) but we're all pulling for him!!

Today a friend came over to replace a front porch light for me, he came directly from post, needless to say the puppies thought he was dad. They followed him all around the front yard and licked and tried to go home with him. Poor dogs, I can't even explain to them what is going on.

Quick plug

I don't really have the energy to talk about much today, it's just one of those days.

However I do want to plug a friend's business:

www.sweetfixphotography.com

They are amazing, they did my bridal protraits and if they had been doing wedding photography I would have snapped that up!!!

If you're in the Austin area (or vicinity) you should check them out, they do more than just weddings too!!

Womp Womp

So Eric leaves for Ranger school tomorrow morning. Needless to say his mood hasn't been the best, and all of that on top of today being a Saturday Halloween has just been sad. haha Anyone who knows the Bier boys knows they love to think up stupid costumes, but tonight is just filled with UT football and an early bedtime.

We did get to carve pumpkins, mine being the only appropriate one I'll show you :)

It's Official!!!

Eric is now a U.S. INFANTRYMAN! hahah His graduation was on Thursday and we have been running ever since!

Putting on his blue cord!

Now we are preparing for Ranger schoold...dun dun dun. Not looking forward to the experience but grateful for it!


Last but not least on Saturday we added a new member to our family: Bevo Barky McBarkerson. He is a precious chocolate lab pup from the Flint County Human Society and the new love of my life....don't tell my husband.

Talley has also fallen in love with him!

Bevo & Talley snuggled up for the night!

Making a House a Home!

So this is my first go round at decorating our house. Knowing we weren't going to be here too long I didn't go all out for Halloween but did add a few touches to say the holidays are beginning! My favorite part of our decorations is the wreath. A few months back I bought a twig wreath and every month I switch out the stuff I decorate it with, a few silk flowers and some ribbon. It makes decorating easy, every month I just pulll out the tub and switch it up!

And two weekends ago we made a suprise trip to IKEA. I had planned to go alone and look while Eric was at work but he surprised me and we went on Sunday!! It was a great afternoon in Atlanta!! Since the last time I had been in an IKEA was before the wedding :) it made my weekend!Our great find was this beautiful duvet!! We narrowed it down to three different comforters and this was the winner. I let Eric pick it out since I picked out our spring duvet.

Being the creative guy he is E suggested I make some dark chocolate pillows to go behind the duvet shams to match the flowers! They turned out really good! I found some what they called "outer wear" material at JoAnns for $7 a yard, and out of one yard made two pillows! Over all we came out with new bedding for under $100!!

I can't wait for our move to find a place we can really decorate!!!

Woah!

Sorry about the absence! I haven't been blogging very much lately, I don't know just didn't really have the vibe I geuss. Lately things have been sailing along. We are both so ready for our PCS and are just patiently waiting for the end of IOBC.

Speaking of which, things are getting exciting again!!So on the first of Oct. we had the senior spouse social! fun! The theme was a spooky spouse's social which was neat becuase we all got the chance to dress up in a fun costume and socialize a little bit more. The senior spouses were very helpful and so open to answering some questions we all had!

Last weekend E and I attended the Georgia National Fair. Being from TX this was our first "fair" we are used to rodeos which tend to be a little different. It was fun, the best part: of course the food :) smoked turkey legs and roasted corn are, in my opinion, some of the best food ever!

The next couple weeks are going to be pretty busy for us around here. E graduates from IOBC next week, tomorrow the ladies get to see the men in action (for the first time!! all of our other events have been cancelled due to bad weather :( )Friday we have a picnic and on the 29th we are having a thanksgiving celebration at our house before Ranger school ...whew!!! not mention we haven't taken our christmas picture! hahah!

Hopefully I'll be on and posting more! I have some Halloween decor pictures I keep forgetting to upload haha ....all in good time!

Whirlwind!!!

So the last couple weeks have just flown by in a blur! I spent last week in Louisville KY visiting some family. It was a great week! I spent time with my grandma who I don't get to see very much and on top of that I had a visit with each and every aunt and uncle!!! Growing up so far from my extended family it feels funny at first to go back, but once I'm there and things get going full swing it's wonderful! I don't think we get the full benefits of extended family as children, the real value doesn't come until we're adults and can fully understand other people.

Now for the bad parts of the trip. ATLANTA. It was flooded on the way out and flooded on the way in. It took 2 hours to get from the south side to the north side. This STUNK. I was extremely upset. Instead of taking 6.5 hours my trip took 10 hours....yuck!

On the way back I had decided to go through Alabama...this was also a mistake because the highway I was told to take had LIGHTS on it! crazy...again the return trip took 10 hours...gross.

I'm glad to be home but now there are all sorts of things to be done...I geuss I better get on the every growing list :)

What a WEEK!

Ok so I've been really bad about updating lately :( for all two of you who read about my life I apologize! Hopefully this loaded post will entertain you!

On Monday I left for a 10 hour drive to Indianapolis to visit my mom's family. E was headed to the field for the week so things worked out great! It was so amazing to spend time with my family, I don't get the chance to do that often since Texas and Indy are too far away! But the dog slept the entire way and we made it! While in Indy I did some serious shopping, they have AJ Wrights (like a TJ Maxx but cheap cheap cheaper!) where I bought E and I Indianapolis Colts gear for under $30! then we went to the flower shop, which requires a membership but is like a Garden Ridge (aahhhhmazing!) then we stopped at by far my favorite: The Christmas Tree Shops!! They have all kinds of things at very low prices! I finally bought a mini flag pole to hang my mini holiday flags on in our front yard ($2.99), a replacement Chindi rug for the kitchen ($4.99), a halloween flag for the pole ($1)!!! made my day! It was the best store EVER!

Oooh and did I mention we had WHITE CASTLE??? mmm my favorite! they are those tastey little burgers with just grilled onions and cheese on them mmmmmm! E was no doubt jealous!

Wednesday night my Aunt had all of the family over for sloppy joes and catch up! It was great! I love those kind of days!

I am also now addicted to the memory foam contoured pillows. Just so happens Target has them on sale this week for 17.49!!! geuss who is getting one!!! :)

So I left around 5:30 on Friday morning to make the 10 hour drive home, little did I know my poor hubsy would be stranded in the field 24 more hours. There was a terrible mix up and someone lost some night vision goggles, well when things like this happen no one goes home. So they searched bags, people, even did amnesty checks (think a teacher telling the student to put something on her desk that he took while she is out of the room...anonymously so no one gets in trouble), then they were shipped back to the field and put on lock down. So even though the unit was done at 12pm on Friday they were not released until 4pm on Saturday. That made for a frustrating 24 hours!! let me tell you!

This afternoon was pretty good, took E to see Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs...anyone who read the book as a kid has to go see it, turned out pretty cute!!

We have 5 weeks left of IOBC, 6 weeks until Ranger School and 4 months and 21 days until we move to CO. Very excited times, but it can't fly by fast enough!!

Friday woohoo!

TODAY IS FRIDAY! So excited. E was in the field all week and today ends the week!! He should be home...sometime...apparently something is lost. We were supposed to have a bunch of people over but it's getting late and I don't think that will be happening :( boo. I have the meatballs all made and everything :(.

On another note Mrs. over at: http://tryingourbest.blogspot.com/ is giving away a BEAUTIFUL quilted service star. Jealous! Love it! I have wanted one of these for a while, and one way or another I will get one. Even if I don't win I'll find the perfect one (that just means it wasn't supposed to be for me).

Not much planned this weekend just taking it slow.

This cabernet is tasting pretty good right now...Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi 2008. <3

I'm coping with the delay...they were supposed to be coming home about two hours ago....something is lost. We all know what that means...

So I might be crazy

I have been surviving on VERY little sleep lately. Whenever I have a night by myself I just can't sleep! You would think since I've only been married 3 1/2 months I would still be ok with sleeping alone however I don't like it. I like E to be near me, even if it just means he is in the same room. Anways, I've been in the geust room and with the pup every night. I have also caught up on my movies again!

I have a new found love: Bollywood. Mira Nair, I am convinced, is a genius! Last night I watched The Namesake, tonight Monsoon Wedding, I have Slumdog Millionaire on request (can't wait!). All wonderful.

Before that I watched Emma...it was ok, nothing to rave about. This weeks chick flick at the Carmike was All About Steve, it was one of those movies where they put all the funny parts in the preview, disappointing, but I enjoyed Sandra Bullock. In my opinion she is the best!!!Currently watching Austrialia, we'll see how this goes.

I had my first FRG meeting this evening as well. It was awesome!!! The FRG is the wives group within the army, every company has them and they are basically a support system. It was so nice to have ladies to talk to who are in the same boat. I even met some people who are moving to Carson! Neato!

So the part that might make me crazy, after the meeting I went to pick some things up at Wal Mart. Did I mention the meeting was a Pajama Pot Luck? yes yes, I walked around Wallyville in my Lipstick swirl Nick and Nora PJ pants, with just a few strange looks. When I got home I cleaned the house, nothing like some late night vacuuming :). We're having company tomorrow and I won't be home during the day to clean so I thought I'd just get it out of the way ahahha.

Whew!! What a weekend!!!

Ok so I just now catching up after the incredibly busy weekend!!! Mom and Dad arrived late Thursday night. We had so much fun I was so sad to see them go on Tuesday morning.



We spent most of the day on Friday touring post and Columbus. We took The parents to the PX and to eat at the food court. hahah this sounds so silly but it's great that they got to see what our lives are like. Friday night we went to this really cool event, the Hot Air Balloon Festival at Callaway Gardens. I had no idea what to expect and it was so much better than anything I could have planned! None of us has ever seen a real live hot air balloon, the festival was just starting and all of the people who own balloons brought them and blew them up, as the sun went down they used their torches (the hot air) to light up their balloons and put on a show for us all!! It was AHHHHHMAZING! and it was free for all of the Military and up to 5 guests.

Saturday we took mom and dad to Atlanta, I love Atlanta it is one of my new favorite places and it helps that there are a lot of fun things to do! First we started the day at the Atlanta State Aquarium, fun!! There were sooooooo many people and bunches of fish! I would recommend it to anyone, but a weekday might be a better idea. After that we walked around the down town area, since Saturday was the SEC football kick off there were people everywhere!!! Things that were going on in Atlanta:

Britney Spears Concert
Nascar Race
GA/Bama football game
Aquarium
Braves game...

a very busy city to say the least.
Later we took a spin around the Atlanta Underground, a neat little mall and shopping area, next we stopped at Lenox Square mall, by the time we finished all of this we were beat and had to head home.

Sunday was a restful day, we just hung out at home, the boys watched some NFL football while mom and I hit up Target. Monday we went out to Lunch at Cannon Brew Pub YUUUUUM! and then did the mall thing.

We had such a great time!! I was defiantly sad to see my parents leave! I've started counting down the days until I get to go home, I can't wait to see my friends and home ahhh patience is a virtue....

Tomorrow is my very first FRG meeting!! I don't know quiet what to expect but I can't help but be a little excited. The next few weeks are packed full of fun things to do and see I have a feeling the rest of the training period is going to fly by!!

Woooooaaaaah

Ok so sitting here watching Good Morning America, I do not typically bring politics into my life. I listen, I observe but I do not however comment. Mostly because I have found anytime one comments on politics it will not doubt start an argument or intense conversation that I just find pointless.

However, on GMA this morning, there was a story about Levi Johnson. Now if I were this young mans mother I think I might have to smack him upside the head at the next family dinner, that is assuming the Johnsons are still a family and still have family dinners....that could be a contributing factor come to think of it. So Levi is the father of Bristol Palin's baby, I like the Palin family. I admire Sarah Palin, I'm not saying she would be a perfect President, governor, senator, congresswoman or any of the above, I'm not even saying I want to trade places with her (I wouldn't trade places with anyone really) but I admire her and her gusto. Now we have Mr. Johnson, when Bristol announced she was pregnant he was very adamant about not being in the public eye, that he did want anything to do with the media. Today the story I mentioned, he decided he was going to spout all kinds of "truths" about the Palin family. Now how can you call these things truths??!?!?! He is a 3rd party! If there was a third party out to tell things about my marriage, my children, my career I'd be less than happy! This young man who was considered so humble and so ready for father hood is the farthest things from what I would want for my daughter, my grandaughter or even the public to know. Some of the political analysts have decided this is all a ploy for a book deal....certainly not something that will be on our bookshelf!!!

In other Bierschenkk News!!! UT FOOTBALL KICKS OFF ON SATURDAY!!! Yes I know it is only Thursday but we just can't wait! The party will start tomorrow!!! At 7pm on Fox PPV The University of Texas at Austin Longhorns will play Louisiana Monroe (and kick their butt :) ) can't wait!!!

something to do something to do!!

Finally something to do!! Going to yoga today, finally, it's been a long time!! I can't wait, we've been on the tight side of things so sitting around has become my forte, but not today!!!

Well at least not for an hour today :). Is it sad that I haven't cleaned my house or folded the laundry so that I have something to do??? Yesterday I finished another painting, then I hung it on the wall...E has yet to notice. I thought I'd give it another day before I point it out, no doubt I will have to point it out. And no I wasn't being tricky, it has been hung in plain sight haha, right when you walk in the door it's across the way, we'll see....he was awfully sleepy last night.

I need a job, bad. I want to substitute but I'm waiting on one more recommendation before they will enter me into the system. Hopefully once that gets all taken care of the teachers will start taking some time off and putting some money in our bank account, that would be too too sweet!

I really wish I had something interesting to share but well our lives just aren't interesting lately....

Where did the weekend go?

This past weekend was a very calm quiet weekend around our house.


One of our family friends is in town for Airborn school, lucky kid gets to start school 2 weeks late! So we went to the Atlanta Bread Company for dinner YUMMMM! I love this reastaurant. We used to have one in Round Rock but for some reason it closed up. If you ever get the chance have a bread bowl full of french onion, it's the best warm meal ever! E was skeptical but settled on a bread bowl of clam chowder and needless to say we will be returning:) Late we went to Buffalo Wild Wings for a drink and that pretty much rounded out our Friday night.

Saturday was a slow day as well, we basically spent the day getting some errands done, meaning we went to Commandos not once not twice but 3X! haha There was a mix up in one of E's orders so we had to run an errand for the commandos people before we could actually have his order completed. Later Saturday evening we watched the UFC fight with some friends, not my favorite activity but spending time with E is so that's what it was all about.

Sunday was just plain slow, we watched What Happens in Vegas, E did homework and I did the grocery shopping...prolly the last time I do that for a while.

Thursday my parents come into town and I am SOOOO excited! I haven't seen them since June and that is the longest I've gone in a really long time!

Can't wait we have lots of fun things planned!!

hmmm

Sometimes it just so hard to find things to write about. Today was a home alone day, those days are always interesting. This town is just so different from home, this state is NOTHING like Texas. I can't wait for the day we get to go home, right now it's just a dream on the horizon.

In other news, movies movies movies!! Today was a movie day! The local library is the best! There movies have already hit theaters, most of them a long time ago, however they were movies E didn't want to see or I couldn't talk him into going to sooooo I rent them when he is at work! They have all kinds of movies and so the Bierschenk Marquee today read:

He's Just Not That Into You

Coco Chanel

Mrs. Pettigrew Lives for a Day.

By far my favorite: Coco Chanel. It was just the story of her life but nonethe less loved it!

So keeping myself busy while E is at work is the hardest thing ever. I always thought before we got married I would be able to find some little job in a shop or become really involved or just act on my hobbies. Well a person can only knit or paint or cross stitch for so long before they get bored out of their brains.

Recently I've been working on my sister in laws baby shower! So excited!! This is my first real family event, since marrying into the family anyway :). When my sister was pregnant I was too young to throw a shower so I'm excited to get to play a part. The theme is "winnie the pooh" and it's her first girl. So far things are rolling along, the geust book page is finished but I'm slightly stuck on the invitations.

The geust book: a honey pot with flowers coming out of it, each geust will sign a flower.

Possible ideas for the invitations: rectangles with some sort of honey qoute and the information on the back, honey pots with information on the back, winnie the pooh note cards (haven't had much luck finding these)....I wanted to make something unique but this is getting harder and harder!

Weekend Round Up!!

So I know I'm a day late on my updates but here it goes!

Friday was an awesome evening. E and I stayed up late and watched movies, something we haven't done at home in a while. We watched Bedtime Stories, with Adam Sandler and Marley and Me with Jennifer Anniston. They were good! Marley and me was incredibly sad, E said "almost as sad as Up!" hahah...yes he almost cried at Up! It was one for the record books and is now how he measures the sadness of movies.

Saturday we were a little more active. During the day we made our way out to Macon to Smiley's flea market. In my opinion it wasn't worth it...they had a bunch of stuff that had been cast off by stores, some knock offs and lots of food...we had some good Horchata, something you don't find alot out here in the deep south so far from Texas. It was a little piece of home, that was the good part. E found some video game, we all know he needs another one of those...and we saw some really cute pups. The lady that had the pups there appeared to be a breeder....anyone have experience with that kind of situation? We would like to get another very very small dog to keep our dog out of trouble but we're a little wary of this kind of sitatution. It was a good price and the dogs appeared to be healthy but that's what our friend thought when he bought from a breeder and the dog died six days later....

Saturday night we made our way to cheddars to hang out with some friends. This was honestly the worst restaurant experience I have ever had in my life. Our waitress was very slow, I'm not sure if we were being ignored or if she was just that busy. From where we sat she just appeared to be ignoring us. There were 11 people at our table, and most of the people were recieving their food before the waitress came back with their beer...boo. I'm not trying to be rude but I waited tables for 4 years, It's really not that hard to make sure someone gets their drinks first...

I was also the DD, so after Cheddars we made our way to this neat little place Sports Page so they boys, yes the boys, could do some karaoke. haha too fun! It was great to watch.

Sunday was again a lzay day. E did some homework while I did my favorite, groceries :).

Other than that we have had a slow start to the week, not much going on lately....I'll see what I can do.

Show Us Your Life Friday!!!

Ok I'm excited because this is my very first show us your life friday! I love this idea, it's fun and it ensures I have something to write about haha! So my theme is Anne Geddes! I love her pictures, the babies are just sooo cute! My sister in law is about to have a little girl so this theme is very girly and very perfect!! Can't wait!



1,1 OK so I would start with Anne Geddes as the invitations, this cute little stationary store in Austin carries Anne Geddes Cards, I would use those stamping the Who What When Where (you can find this stamp at Hobby Lobby or Micheals) on the inside and filling it out by hand.

1,2 I love the idea of sashes, it just makes a person feel special :). Being from the south there is nothing a girl likes better than to have big hair and feel like a beauty queen (ok well maybe just feel like the queen for a day). So I would for sure invest in the mommy to be sash!

1,3 The Geust book would follow along with the flowered Geddes theme. We would have a flower center already made, it would say "Whoevers shower at whatever date" then each geust would sign a petal of the flower and after the shower we would connect them and mount it on at 12x12 scrapbook page.

2,1 The cake (the most important part!!) would be a dirt pie! :) I would fill a terracotta pot withe chocolate pudding, fill the top with crushed oreo. Then to make it into a pretty plant I would put a bushel of fake flowers in the pot!

2,2 Ok the games!! I only put two on here becuase it's all I had room for and go figure that square is the messed up square...I obviously did something wrong. Well it was a die cut flower, or rather a selection of die cut flowers. Each geust gets a flower, on that flower they write a memorie or something special from their childhood that helped them "blossom". They then take turns reading them aloud, the mother to be gets to pick her favorite one or you can put them in a hat and draw one. The flowers are then either a. attached to green pipecleaners and put in a pot of moss as a decoration or b. attached to a metal ring for the mother to keep.

2,3 I would give a small potted plant, just little flower from the grocery store, (I found some for my kitchen for 1.50!) as the prize.

3,1 The next game would be the identfy that flower. I would use printed pictures or some sort of representation of flowers. Some your common household flowers some exotic crazy types. Then we would hold them up and have the geusts geuss the names of the flowers. (just the common joe names). Whoever has the most right wins a prize!

3,2 The next two are my party favors. Flower topped pens (these can also be used at the geust book table.

3,3 seed packets, there are two ways this can be done, like you see here as a deccoration (on the back you could write the occasion information or you can give out actual seed packets (very inexpensive $.10!)


I can't wait to use these ideas!! THis was fun, hope you all enjoy!

Delayed post

Soooo I keeep trying to upload my pictures but Blogger doesn't seem to want to let me. I tried about four times last night and again this morning but to no avail. Maybe later today. Yesterday I had some great finds for under $20! hopefully I get to uplaod the pictures to show everyone.

On another note, please don't get me wrong, I love children, I look forward to having children one day, sooner rather than later. I will never be one of those people who says "I believe in birth control" when I hear a screaming child. However I don't think we should hear screaming children everywhere!Yesterday I was in Hobby Lobby, the craft store we all know and love, and this child was just screaming! Not crying, not moaning, screaming bloody murder about something his mom wouldn't let him do or buy. It was a full blown temper tantrum, mom just ignored him. I have a really big problem with this, I understand it may be your way of dealing with the problem but I find it very rude to the rest of the world. Am I crazy? Is this really an effective way to deal with the problem? Now on Sunday at mass, whew, let me tell you the priest was very kind in not saying anything. Back where we come from father would have stopped right in the middle of what he was doing and asked the mother to make a trip to the good old cry room! This small child screamed, in the middle of church (!) until after communion, a good 30 mintues, and mother just ignroed him! I believe there is a time and place for this kind of treatment and it is not in the presence of every person in town!

My mother always taught me with my neices and nephews that if the child starts to scream and won't stop after the first time you just leave. You don't need anything that bad,especially hobby items, but raising a well behaved child should be one of your foremost goals in life.

In other news, yet again, I don't understand by E's platoon is kept later every single night than any of the other platoons in his unit. His cadre just won't ever let them go. It's like some sort of cruel joke or something. They will intentionally leave everyone outside, waiting for hours, for nothing...I know I know it's his job, but really...8pm is ridiculous when everyone else has gone home at 3...I would be a little more understanding if I knew he was actually working.

Sorry just my little rant! Does this sort of thing bother anyone else? I know I don't have kids,and this is the life I signed up for I'll just have to ask God for a little more patience.

Seriously?

This is my furbaby, the one and only Talley. Talley is our little blessing, she came to us in June. She is a verry mischeievious Jack Chi (Jack Russel Chihuahua). I love this picture, we bought her a bed a few weeks ago, until that point she had been sleeping in a crate, one of those horrible plastic air travel crates, and now she sleeps in this funny position every night!

She is definatly a pain in the side but just too cute to do anything about.

In other news E came in from the field today. So thankful. We haven't been through a deployment yet and I dread the day we are faced with that inveitable truth. It's bad enough after 48 hours, he's so tired, stinky and sore...I can't even imagine what it will be like after 365 days. My heart goes out to all those who are currently going through, have gone through or are getting ready to go through a future deployment.

Happy News: We had an awesome dinner!

Try this on for size, E Loved it!

"Delicious Pork Chops"
3/4 cup biscuit mix
1 tsp paprika
3/4 cup Italian Dressing
1 package bread crumbs (seasoned on plain your choice, Italian seasoned works really well)

Creat three bowls. 1. Biscuit and paprika 2. Italian dressing 3. Bread crumbs. Dip porkchops in all three bowls, in that order.

Fry (or bake) your porkchops! Yummi, fast and easy!

I made this self created Orzo dish as well

1 package of Orzo
2 roma tomatoes
1 cup fresh spinach
1 cup fancy shredded Mozerella chees
Lemon pepper
Lemon Juice

Dice the tomatoes, tear the spinach. Mix drained orzo with tomatoes, spinach and cheese. Add 1 tbsp of lemmon pepper seasoning, add lemon juice to taste.

Quick easy yummi!

Last Mintue Post...

Ok so I just have to say I have discovered the wonderful world of Army wife blogs! I don't know why I didn't think to look this up before but I am in love! This is the best therapy I have found yet!

Tastey Theater ? Tuesday!!!

Today I went by myself, yes all alone, to watch The Proposal while Eric was at work. Let me just say, it's not Sandra Bullocks funniest movie but it was very cute! I would recommend it for any girls night however I would not subject the husbands out there to it, it would not win him over to the chick flick side!!

Movies I am looking forward to seeing:
1. Julie and Julia
2. Extract
3.The Time Travellers Wife
4. The Goods: Sell Hard Live Hard
5. Post Grad6. All About Steve
7. The Ugly Truthand since I can't do things in odds...
8. Love Happens (love love love Jennifer Aniston!!)


Ok so being the homemaker I am I've been trying out new recipes on my new husband :) Poor guy, thankfully nothing has been horrible and he eats every last bit I put in front of him. The key is to listen for how many times he says it's good, if it's more than once and he makes no suggestions on how to "improve the meal" then that means it's a winner. So here it goes!!!





Last night we had Spaghetti and Meatballs!!! hahah. Ok so I've never made meatballs before, this time I did it from scratch, and it wasn't too hard...here is my recipe, if you have a better one please share but this was over all pretty darn delish!

Ingredients:
1 egg
1 tsp minced garlic
1 slice of white onion minced
1.5 lbs of ground beef
1.5 cans of your favorite spaghetti sauce
1 tsp olive oil
1 package of your favorite spaghetti ( I always use angel hair, it's just my favorite!)

Mix egg, garlic, minced onion, ground beef and 1 tbsp of spaghetti sauce (you can use a spoon, but it's much more fun and easier with your hands!!!). Form beef into golf ball size mounds (my suggestion you can use any size you like). In a frying pan pour the tsp of olive oil and heat, add the meat balls, moving around until brown (spatchula works best, the balls tend to fall apart if you use tongs). Once all meatballs are browned add your speghetti sauce cooking for 15 -20 mintues or until meatballs are cooked all the way through.

Cook spaghetti to your liking, and add meatball mixture to top!!

If you actually use the whole 1/2 lb of ground beef you will have more than enough to make meatball subs out of the leftovers!

Weekend Round Up!!

Ok so day one of something new!!! Today is the weekend round up, basically filling you in on all the fun we had this weekend!!

Saturday

Well anyone who knows the hubsy knows that he is a gun lover!! He has a few but one of his favorite activities is window shopping for his next aquisition. So this weekend we got the chance to do just that. Columbus hosted it's very own gun show. Now if you're afraid of these massive metal weapons then this was not the place for you! It was definatly a new experience, this was my first gun show...we'll see if I make it to another ;)

After the show we discovered Marco's Pizza. It's always fun living in a new place and finding "the places". Marco's is definatley THE pizza place. I would recommend it to anyone!

For those few that remember, 4 years ago saturday was the day Eric and I had our first date! He definatly stepped it up this time. We ate a wonnnnderful dinner at Houlihans which is located at the Marriott Columbus, the nicest hotel in Columbus haha. It was also the sight of the old mill. I would go back for sure! It was delicious. We had spinach artichoke dip, stuff chicken breast, sirloin, creme brulee, pecan pie and a snickers scoop!! (they did mini desserts we weren't being cows haha)

Late that evening we met up with some friends for some drinks. There is a great brew pub here in town called The Cannon. I love their souviners!! For those who don't know the Army Ranger battallions have the same logo, however theirs says Ranger not beer :).

They also happen to make their own Root Beer. Delicious!!!

Then our friends found this awesome little place called Belloos!!! I would definatly go back, if it weren't so expensive ahha. Maybe as our occisional treat! We were sat in the VIP section, which was basically on the stage, in these great leather couches. The boys all purchased their choice of cigar while I had the chance to enjoy my Pinot Grigio. A jazz band was playing and all in all it was a very chill, very posh, atmosphere.

Sunday

Sunday rolled around and Eric was very sad haha. Work loomed in the distance and that's always a sad thought. After church we took the pup to pet smart to see some of her own kind. The funny part is she gets really excited yet really scared!! She pulls at the leash barks at the other dogs but the moment she is barked at she runs inbetween our legs.

And then, we have a new Sunday tradtion, Crab Rangoon. Yes Crab Rangoon, those crispy little chinese pastries filled with sweet crab stuff. I can't describe it but I had them for the first time on our vacation to Jekyll Island ever since then I've been hooked and we find a new place to Eat Crab Rangoon after church. So far we've hit Little Buddha and New China :)

We had a great weekend and I can't wait for the next one!!! ahhhh!

Stay tuned more great stuff coming tomorrow!!!