My Military man and me plus 3.

BUY USA FOR CHRISTMAS!

2010-09-28T15:23:00.000-07:00

Let's give America an amazing Christmas gift!! I have thought about this a while, and I think it is actually a GREAT idea! I want to start a revolution actually ;) Re-post it if you like the sentiment. If we all bought only items "Made in the USA" (some of you remember this slogan from the 80's) Imagine the positive impact it would have on American jobs and our economy! Its the same idea of parents who put their children first and then they are too stressed to be as productive or live up to their own potential.... This year, lets put America first! No matter what your religion, we are all Americans, so let's support Americans by buying our gifts for whatever religious holiday you celebrate only "MADE IN THE USA" this year. I think it would help our country and we could better help others if we can help ourselves!! What do you think? I understand "some" things may be impossible as our children have their own ideas, but if we all TRY our best to saturate our gifts with made in the USA only, and limit those that are impossible to find other wise, I think it would be an amazing gift to the country and our fellow Americans who are so deserving this year! Please please please pass this or the sentiment along and let's start a great holiday season for us all to be proud of!

Here are some online links to made in the USA only products:
http://www.madeinusa.org/
http://www.stillmadeinusa.com/
http://www.americansworking.com/
http://www.madeinusa.com/
http://madeinusaforever.com/
http://www.toysmadeinamerica.com/

I also thought this was funny.

Great Pumpkin (basic puree to use in all your recipies)

2010-09-27T12:00:00.000-07:00

GREAT PUMPKIN PUREE*

1. Find your great pumpkin Charlie Brown ;)

2. Wash your great pumpkin in warm soapy water, rinse, and dry well.

3. Cut the Pumpkin on a cutting board into wedges

4. Scoop out the stringy pulp and seeds with a metal spoon, leaving the firm flesh and skin.

5. Place a steamer insert in a Double Boiler or a steam pot and fill the pot with a few inches of water. When the water boils, place the pumpkin pieces inside, packing them in tightly so that they will all fit. Cover and steam for about 30 minutes, until the flesh is quite soft and easily punctured with a fork.

**you can also use a baking sheet, place small amount of water in bottom of pan, place pumpkin wedges cut side down and bake them at 400 degrees for the same amount of time, 20-30 minutes.

6. Process to a smooth puree in a puree machine or a blender. Simple season now as you like, light salt and extra light pepper. This will insure you can use this puree with all your recipes that call for pumpkin, deserts or savory meals.

7. Transfer the puree to a sieve (you can line it with several layers of paper towels or cheese cloth) and allow to cool and drain for about 30 minutes.

8. Place the puree in freezer bags or plastic containers, and either freeze or refrigerate until ready to use.

Say WHAT?! (repost from DCP)

2010-09-04T10:25:00.000-07:00

See my sweet little 3 year old? Isnt she cute?

Even with her furrowed brow, still cute right?
And throwing a little sass being silly wild and trying to be funny, aww cute still!
And when her sister makes her mad, dropping the "F-BOMB" Umm, yeah that happened.... Guess I should stop thinking it's so cute before that becomes a daily word for my cute little girl!

boys will be boys

2010-07-15T18:20:00.000-07:00

A dear friend of mine had a recent break up... All I can say is he lost his mind. But I did find some really funny sympathy cards, check out the link, too funny, I sent this one to her, I love it!
http://www.foxyblunt.com/product/with_deepest_sympathy.aspx

Also today is her birthday, Happy Birthday and a toast to you and that this year will be the best yet! xo

New Socks

2010-07-10T14:48:00.001-07:00

I love new socks.... The problem with socks though is that as they are washed and shrink in sizes, the sizes are not that far apart. I have three little girls and they get mixed up, oldest with middle and middle with youngest even though we buy different style socks for each kiddo, SO, our solution has been for many years to label them... We have done this since we were in Germany and my amazing friend's husband had a theory to label socks and number them. It is GREAT and I LOVE organization... So, I have done this over the years, great system, HOWEVER< I watched the Jerry Seinfeld show "The Marriage Ref" and they had a guy on there who numbered and did Left and Right, and they totally laughed about it... I think it's funny too, but the fact is, it works and I wont stop! BUT, it did make me go less neurotic, so now it is just the girls FIRST initial on their lot of socks and no more numbers R-1 R-1, R-2 R-2, R-3 R-3.... Now were down to just "R" I could certainly go oerboard with organization if I could, BUT it is supposed to help add time to my life and the numbers added a short time to the sorting by trying to find the number match... It works for me, and I had to share my little sock trick ;)
1- bag of new socks (ahh, nothing better ;)
2- sharpie
3- label on bottom under toe so nothing shows when they are walking in them or in a show.
4- wah- lah, enjoy the extra time you wont spend laying out a million little white socks doing the size up game ;)

It's a small small Military world out there!

2010-07-09T22:58:00.000-07:00

SOOO, today was a military COC (Change of Comand) I attended. I wanted to meet some military friends and support the new commander coming in, also my stud military man was a part of the ceremony.... Lets not mention I was late because it was so dripping hot out, I knew my middle lady would litterally have a melt down, so we waited and attended the.... well, lets just call it the "after party", yeah that's how we roll, lol. I mingled and chatted and met some ladies, got all signed up for some contacts, some hopefull friends in sight I think and low and behold, one of my close friends who lives far away, HER FRIEND, who I have seen for YEARS in scrape books, so I flet I knew her, was there, and NOW I am officially in the cool girls club! lol, yep, I made some friend contacts people!!! And I already know they are solid, so look what a little complaining and patience gets me! Look out world, I may find a mommy friend play date soon!!! WOOO HOOOO!!!!!

Speaking of new cothes

2010-07-09T00:41:00.000-07:00

I had to post this picture because in my last post I wrote about my relatives being of dairy farming roots (this is not my relative) But take a long look at this picture... It annoys me. She has dishes piled next to the sink, she does not look like she is perfectly put together, she looks like she has been working, like a normal woman would look, I am annoyed because why is it we feel pressured to look good while we do the same jobs as our ancestors did? It is hard work to raise a family, we work our butts off and it is crazy to put more stress on ourselves. I mean if you google the 1950's, 40's, 30's house wife, you will see perfect woman in the kitchen in aprons, but the truth is those images are the only ones that made it in magazines, advertising or posing for a rare picture, not everyone had a camera in those days... But in reality, they had on their Sunday best and lip stick, it is not reality, in reality they dressed to work their butts off on a daily basis, and the house was not always perfect. Woman went throught heir husbands working long hours or being gone for war, they went through financial turmoil, are there parallels there, absolutely... I'm sure there was a little preassure to look good, but they only worried about that on Sunday... I made a post of this, and I truley dont wear makeup, I dont "do" my hair and I dont get dressed up on a regular basis, what you see is what you get, I will throw on a jacket, sunglasses, lip gloss and that is me getting ready.... I just hope my 3 girls are not sucked into this false vicious quest for perfection... It's BS, just like a clean house. I admit, my house is ubber organized, I love that, but it is clean when I clean it, and dirty the second my children walk in the door with their muddy feet and terrorizing ways. Then the cycle begins again... I dont want my girls to have a horrible house, of course not, but I also want them to be ok with a dish in the sink or a shirt in the laundry... Maybe the problem is I bought into it, and that is really what annoys me, I see it's not rational to be in a race witht hings that pile up, maybe if I can come to gripes with this, it will teach the girls much better than anyhting I could say, leading by example...

Organic cheat sheet

2010-07-09T00:19:00.000-07:00

I'm noone's mother here but my three little ladies, so no lecture attached, I'll save that for them later on down the road. If anyone is interested in buying organically, I say this is a great cheat sheet to follow, on the left are produce to buy always organically on the right side, low pesticides... My rule is to try and follow this, it is hard when J is home, he battles me on everything, so this issue is no exception and also some places dont have the best selections of things... I also say ALWAYS buy milk with no added growth hormones... Organic is great too, but for me it's important just to make sure the meat and dairy you consume has no added growth hormones, they are good news for those who make money at that business, but in my opinion, bad for our bodies... Many people will argue this fact and it may just be me being cautious, but seriously, they used to give preganant woman drugs they said were ok, and then they said they caused birth defects.... It is a slippery slope for me I dont want to go down to argue the point of a dollar or two....
I will attach an article that debates the milk thing a little by Anderson Cooper, just so you know I'm really not trying to push my opinion on someone, I say make your own, but that's just what I try to do. I come from a line of dairy farmers from the old country who moved to Wisconsin and had a huge successful dairy farm... also my more recent relatives raised their own cows and milked them. All of them fresh organic milk because that is the way it had been done back in the day, so they raised them in the way of tradition, why are we leaping into this phase of hormones... (ok, ok, off the soap box ;)

http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2008/04/09/got-milk-got-hormones-got-a-problem-with-that/

( I skimmed the article first, pun intended, and just now read the full article, so any parallels were coincidence, but it's funny I do feel that way)

Over the hills, "HILLS"

2010-07-09T00:07:00.000-07:00

I cant help but be in love with this outfit... I love to get dressed up on Occasion, but on a daily basis, I am cooking and cleaning and running errands, I think this is perfect to wear jeans and a white t-shirt and then throw on an amazing jacket to go out and about or drinks with friends or date night, I love it.... J, on the other hand says you have to be a size zero, which I am not, to wear this outfit.... Oh well, I will dream a little.... So then maybe I dont get the jeans targeted at 18 year olds, but made to fit 12 years olds, the butt crack jeans with the amazing built in booty support... I've heard about jeans called "Not your daughters jeans" but those look too old, isnt there something in between new and old? It's not really the pants that pull this outfit off, it's the cool jacket.... So while we are going through a heat wave, I am preparing for the cool fall months already! lol, doesnt anyone else do that? You get so much of a better deal to buy jeans and jackets when the days are scorching.... Anyhow, I will keep you posted if I can modify this outfit and not look like I'm trying to be the next over the hills "HILLS" girl! lol!

R. Lee Ermey Geico Commerical

2010-07-08T14:30:00.000-07:00

Ok, Ok, I'll stop complaining about not having a friend here yet! LOL!!

2010-07-08T13:13:00.000-07:00

And my new sunglasses are..... Number 2! I have been wanting a nice pair of Aviators and searched all the brands and types and finally settled on Coach, they fit my face, which I obviously have a big head, which means a huge brain too! lol!

hellos and good byes

2010-07-08T12:13:00.000-07:00

I have been through deployments. Long one's, short ones, and everywhere in between. This, however, is getting to me... A constant state of hello's and good byes. Not for long of course, and that does make it better, but there is an underlying unsettled feeling in our family, that post deployment talk they talk about where the wife is used tot hings her way and the husband is used to being in charge and running things his way, bound to end in misunderstandings. And while our new life brings these sporadic good byes, the realization of the stress does too. When they are gone for a while, the reality of long deployments sink in, you start to get on your own groove and you tread water until the Calvary is home. I could lie and say how well it is going, many spouses do. We want to be tough and strong, we dont want to burden anyone and think, "Come on woman do this everyday" The fact is most military spouses are not station near family or friends, and many deployments happen when you first move somewhere new before you can plant any roots, you are then faced with the stress of moving and being alone. As was the case for me and woman I knew, many of our deployments happened when we were not even on the same continent as our families, and it was by my good luck and fortune, that my mom was afraid to fly, refused to fly, so no breaks for me. (I have since broken her of that habit, and flown her out to see us as I posted in previous posts)
This new thing were doing is not typical, and it is hard... He is gone before the girls and I get up, home at dark or just before (and that is when he is "home") and as of last night the battle of who would put the girls to bed ensued.. This is just an example of many silly things that pop up, No one is right here, there is no right side to any of these little battles, it is just stress, and we are both under it. He is only home a short time before he leaves again, but my life has been this military revolving door of hellos and good byes and it is a hard road that no one wants to admit. I certainly dont... It is especially hard for me right now because I am searching for a friend here, someone to hang out with and who gets it... Someone who will get the stress of the kiddos, as amazing as my children and husband are, this is hard, harder than you know, and I have not blogged about a part that makes my stress unique to our family, but I feel that blog will be coming soon. I am new to this location and what makes it hard for me is two fold. One, I am not on a military base where it is much easier to meet people in like circumstances, and two... I am the second kind of personality. There are two kinds of people, extraverted adn introverted.. I am not shy by any means, but the difference in the two are like trees, some trees plant short roots, but many roots that stretch over a broad surface, and those like me, plant only a few roots, but plant them deep...I have always beent hat way, it is uncomfortable for me to be around people I dont know, but once I know someone, people think I am extroverted and laugh when I tell them I really am not... My husband is the opposite (who knew right!) I have been settling in the new house, gettign the girls life sqared away and trying to hold things together as much as I could, but this has been hard in some respects, easy in others... But the fact remains, I need to get out there and meet some military ladies. Newbies would be best, were all in the same boat, and even though I am introverted with my roots close to me, I make friends very easily and quickly, I think many military woman learn this trick, so me living next to civilians, who have the friends they had since school or at least for a few years to decades, they think it has only beena short amount of time and they will warm up to me soon enough, Military spouses dont have that luxury, we know we dont, so it is more like elementary school than middle school. Remember that, when you would walk up to someone and say "Hi my name is _ what to be my friend?" And you'd gallop off to play some game or bother the boys, lol! Military life is similar, "Hi, my name is Suzy Homemaker, originally from another state, stationed previously across the globe, working in jobs I can pick up and move at the drop of a dime or staying at home right now, where were you stationed, do you have kids? Want to have coffee with the kids sometime?"
We are a strong bunch and it seems what bothered me when we were first in, doesnt even make me flinch now... As you go down being a career wife's path though, new jobs in the military bring unique circumstances and it is hard to juggle at first... I know we will get a handle on this, we always do. It is just a hard road that is extremely rewarding, but you have to get through these storms to appreciate the rainbows...
The moral is, no matter what the military throws out at a spouse, the hellos and good byes, the highs and the lows, the blow seems softer when she has a friend to decompress with a warm cup of coffee or a cold glass of wine!

Dunkin Donuts Coffee, HA-mazing!

2010-07-07T23:11:00.000-07:00

I guess living in the Starbucks Meca of the world, and even traveling internationally there is a Starbucks on every corner... You walk into a major multi story starbucks and there are reading rooms sitting areas, there is a feeling in there, kind of cool with the art and the wafting coffee, buisness men and couples dating late night sitting in these cozy configured seatting areas... I guess I had become a Starbucks snob.... No Dunkin Donuts where I lived for many many years, so when I heard they beat Starbucks, I thought, it must have been a close one.... a tight race.... Well, as I traveled on Post doing my by-weekly shopping adventure in the Commissary, to my surprize, they were out of my usual coffee, I buy K-cups for my Cuisinart coffee maker which I love and adore... With an annoyed deep throaty *sigh* I look at what my choices are..... What crap is going to get me through my mornings dealing with all the crazies all day now that summer is out... I grab a bag of Dunkin Donuts Vanilla flavored coffee.... "here we go" I think, let's see what all that hype was about. Totally preparing myself for a let down and to do as I usually do, use only a few scoops out of the bag and throw it out once I find my coffee is back instore.
So I get up, open the bag, hey this smells good I think, maybe it will get me through... I brew the cup, add my ussual, 1/2 teaspoon of sugar and 2 Tablespoons (who am I kidding 3!) of Italian Creme and stir it together with whatever plastic kids spoon was sitting on the counter....I warm my hands on the Polish Pottery mug I had to have for a Christmas present from J and pull it close to my face as I pace, take a deep inhale and a small sip.... HOLY MOLY! This stuff is GOOD! I take another sip, and then find myself gulping it down like it was hot choclate on a snowey day and I was 8 years old! It didnt have that bitter bite that Starbucks had... that most coffee's I have tried have, I could not believe it was THAT much better... I really thought it would be like a Pepsi/ Coke, one person likes one better, but this blew me away.... NO MORE COFFEE SNOBBERY, I am converted and am on a mission to spread the word!
For those of you who dont know the ins and outs of military life, one time honored tradition amungst wives is called "The Coffee" it is a social of sorts.... We get together when the boys are gone and serve, you got it, coffee... also tea and soda... ok fine, and wine! But we get a break of adult time and share gripes and laugh, it is a rough road were on, no bashing here, just mutual respect for the battle we face.... Swapping recipies, sharing new upcomming events and socilas, kids activities, games, just good old fun to get out of the normal hum drum routine we are on every day.... Well, I'm sure you know the point I am getting to, I will be serving Dunkin Donuts at any I host for sure..... They have fairtrade espresso in their stores and even offer light fare for breakfast, so I say to anyone waiting and thinking about it or just wanting a cool brand to frquent, SAVE YOUR TIME AND MONEY, Dunkin Donuts is where it's at! ;)

2010-07-07T22:41:00.000-07:00

This is my dining room (the table pictured is not there anymore, it is an empty room right now with just a Hutch on the wall) and the table with the slate in the middle is the table we have been waiting on since JANUARY from Germany.... I am patient and now we are getting free shipping on this, but can I please have a dinning room table to eat at as we are playing musical chairs at the Kitchen Island! lol.... Good things come to those who wait I guess since this is the table I have wanted since we lived in Germany many many years ago, it is made out of reclaimed wood from farm houses in Germnay, France, The Netherlands, and Spain, all the pieces are amazing, and the people who build it are the nicest people with their base in Germany.
I am just on pins and needles to finally have a dining room table back, I will keep you posted, Poker table, still unfinished as we have had some Chimney issues and lots of small weekend warrior projects, home owning is constant upkeep, it is so funny how when we were in Germany or renting, my girls would do something and I would think, "no biggie, I'll hit it with the Mr. Clean Magic eraser later" and now I see them wreaking havoc and I think " Someone wants to die trying to destroy my house today!" lol, it is so funny the things I worry about now, are the trees too close to the house, should we repaint that, seal that, replace that... *sigh* and so it goes... So hopefully I can get my new dining room table, something that wont require me working on the weekends, something pretty I can enjoy and it is rustic enough if my crazies scrape, rub, poke it, it will look fine....
Now I have until it comes to decide which dinning chairs I should get, I am thinking a bench or settee on one side and a few chairs on the other?

Home made Outback Walkabout soup!

2010-07-07T19:04:00.000-07:00

I have tried many recipes for this soup as the military has sent us around the world with no Outbacks in sight and it is a yummy comfort food of mine, this wonderful creamy onion Walkabout soup... Even my ubber picky sister in law who will litterally pick her food appart and hates vegies likes this as the onions are cooked super soft and mild... So FINALLY I have perfected it from a combination of a few recipes I have found, yumm-O, enjoy it if you dare!!

-Cut up a huge onion (or two medium) to the size you like to eat, (preferably very thin for me)
In a pot melt a Tablespoon of butter (or more if you like) and cook onions clear and let them get soft, (dont caramelize, but if a few do, you probably cooked it perfectly, just dont caramelize them all)
*In a separate pot cook 3 Tablespoons Butter, 3Tablespoons Flour, pinch of salt, and 1 and a half cups milk, combine, bring to a boil, done with this* This is to be set aside and let cooled slightly while you continue with your base*
- To the onions add 1 can (14.5 ounces) chicken broth , beef bouillon cube ( I prefer the package that has no MSG's in it-comes in a box not a jar), salt, pepper to taste (lots of pepper to get it right for the Walkabout), and stir until completely heated through.
- Cook that for as long as you think gets the onion nice and soft, softer the better, I say maybe 30 minutes, but you can pull it sooner if you like.
- Add your plain Bechamel Sauce you made and cooled, and about a cup or a cup and a half of your favorite cheese, I have used all kinds and found normal reduced fat shredded cheese works just fine and I have it on hand.
Mix together, heat slightly, serve it up with a small sprinkling of more of the shredded cheese to top it off and enjoy.
**This is super easy when your making it, and super cheap and tastes just like Outback to me, but adjust your seasoning to our own taste buds and enjoy!

Ingredients

* 1 tablespoons butter
* onion
* 2 cups chicken broth or 1 (14.5 ounce) can chicken broth
* pinch salt
* pepper
* bouillon packet or cube
* 1 cup cheese

* Bechamel sauce

White Bechamel Sauce Recipe (this is the most basic recipe, but you can use other spices to spice your Bechemel for other soups, this recipe just needs a plain one)
* 3 tablespoons butter
* pinch salt
* 3 tablespoons flour
* 1 1/2 cups skim milk
(add butter then flour once combined add milk and salt)

Quotes for the 4th

2010-07-04T09:18:00.000-07:00

I googled, yes I googled ;) So here are some amazing Quotes for the 4th that by the time I read through them, my eyes are filled with tears as I love this country more than I could say for everything it is , stands for and strives to be.....

Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it. ~Thomas Paine

He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from opposition; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach himself. ~Thomas Paine

This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave. ~Elmer Davis

The American Revolution was a beginning, not a consummation. ~Woodrow Wilson

Liberty is always dangerous, but it is the safest thing we have. ~Harry Emerson Fosdick

Let freedom never perish in your hands. ~Joseph Addison

You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism. ~Erma Bombeck

Freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men and so it must be daily earned and refreshed - else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots, it will wither and die. ~Dwight D. Eisenhower

In the truest sense, freedom cannot be bestowed; it must be achieved. ~Franklin D. Roosevelt

A statistician made a few calculations and discovered that since the birth of our nation more lives had been lost in celebrating independence than in winning it. ~Curtis Billings

Freedom's natal day is here.
Fire the guns and shout for freedom,
See the flag above unfurled!
Hail the stars and stripes forever,
Dearest flag in all the world.
~Florence A. Jones

This, then, is the state of the union: free and restless, growing and full of hope. So it was in the beginning. So it shall always be, while God is willing, and we are strong enough to keep the faith. ~Lyndon B. Johnson

For what avail the plough or sail, or land or life, if freedom fail? ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

That which distinguishes this day from all others is that then both orators and artillerymen shoot blank cartridges. ~John Burroughs, Journal

Those who won our independence believed liberty to be the secret of happiness and courage to be the secret of liberty. ~Louis D. Brandeis

Freedom is nothing but a chance to be better. ~Albert Camus

It is easy to take liberty for granted, when you have never had it taken from you. ~Author unknown, sometimes attributed to M. Grundler

Liberty is the breath of life to nations. ~George Bernard Shaw

America is much more than a geographical fact. It is a political and moral fact - the first community in which men set out in principle to institutionalize freedom, responsible government, and human equality. ~Adlai Stevenson

May the sun in his course visit no land more free, more happy, more lovely, than this our own country! ~Daniel Webster

We on this continent should never forget that men first crossed the Atlantic not to find soil for their ploughs but to secure liberty for their souls. ~Robert J. McCracken

If our country is worth dying for in time of war let us resolve that it is truly worth living for in time of peace. ~Hamilton Fish

I prefer liberty with danger to peace with slavery. ~Author Unknown

I love my freedom. I love my America. ~Jessi Lane Adams

Without freedom, no one really has a name. ~Milton Acorda

Where liberty dwells, there is my country. ~Benjamin Franklin

All we have of freedom, all we use or know -
This our fathers bought for us long and long ago.
~Rudyard Kipling, The Old Issue, 1899

Liberty means responsibility. That is why most men dread it. ~George Bernard Shaw, Man and Superman, "Maxims: Liberty and Equality," 1905

It is the love of country that has lighted and that keeps glowing the holy fire of patriotism. ~J. Horace McFarland

The winds that blow through the wide sky in these mounts, the winds that sweep from Canada to Mexico, from the Pacific to the Atlantic - have always blown on free men. ~Franklin D. Roosevelt

I wish that every human life might be pure transparent freedom. ~Simone de Beauvoir

The United States is the only country with a known birthday. ~James G. Blaine

Many politicians are in the habit of laying it down as a self-evident proposition that no people ought to be free till they are fit to use their freedom. The maxim is worthy of the fool in the old story who resolved not to go into the water till he had learned to swim. ~Thomas Macaulay

Then join hand in hand, brave Americans all!
By uniting we stand, by dividing we fall.
~John Dickinson

We must be free not because we claim freedom, but because we practice it. ~William Faulkner

My God! How little do my countrymen know what precious blessings they are in possession of, and which no other people on earth enjoy! ~Thomas Jefferson

What is the essence of America? Finding and maintaining that perfect, delicate balance between freedom "to" and freedom "from." ~Marilyn vos Savant, in Parade

How often we fail to realize our good fortune in living in a country where happiness is more than a lack of tragedy. ~Paul Sweeney

From every mountain side
Let Freedom ring.
~Samuel F. Smith, "America"

We need an America with the wisdom of experience. But we must not let America grow old in spirit. ~Hubert H. Humphrey

Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves. ~Abraham Lincoln

Freedom is the oxygen of the soul. ~Moshe Dayan

And I'm proud to be an American,
where at least I know I'm free.
And I won't forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.
~Lee Greenwood

It is sweet to serve one's country by deeds, and it is not absurd to serve her by words. ~Sallust

My patriotic heart beats red, white, and blue. ~Author Unknown

Freedom is not enough. ~Lyndon B. Johnson

We are free, truly free, when we don't need to rent our arms to anybody in order to be able to lift a piece of bread to our mouths. ~Ricardo Flores Magon, speech, 31 May 1914

Freedom is never free. ~Author Unknown

There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured by what is right with America. ~William J. Clinton

2010-07-04T09:10:00.001-07:00

Happy 4th of July!!!

2010-07-04T08:51:00.000-07:00

Today we will be going to the Military Base to celebrate with all the festivities they have to offer, I hear they have rides for the kiddos and plenty of fair type junk food to keep them awake through the cracks and booms of the Fireworks, which I hear is a pretty great show! I will post pictures tomorrow, but had to come on and say Happy Independence day, I truly bleed Red White and Blue, I have been to many places on this big beautiful globe, but no place on earth compares to the United States of America and all it stands for... God Bless the US!!! Hope you all enjoy yours and never forget the soldiers who are away from their families so that we can be with ours!!

Invisible Mother

2010-06-17T12:13:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine shared this with me and I had to post it....

Invisible Mother

It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, "Can't you see I'm on the phone?". Obviously not; no one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible. The invisible Mom. Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? can you open this?

Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, "What time is it? I'm a satellite guide to answer, "What number is the Disney Channel??".I'm the car to order, "Right around 5:30 please"

I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude -but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going, She's going, She's gone!?

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feeling pretty pathetic when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package and said "I brought you this." It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn't exactly sure why she had given it to me until I read her inscription.

"To Charlotte with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees"

In the days ahead, I would read -no, devour- the book and I would discover what would become for me, four life changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: No one can say who built the great cathedrals-we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of god saw everything.

A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man "Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof. No one will ever see it." and the workman replied" Because God sees"

I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard god whispering to me, "I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become."

At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride.

I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.

When i really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving. "My mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table. That would mean I had built a monument or a shrine to myself. I just want him to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friends, to add, "You're going to love it there".

As mothers, we are building cathedrals. We cannot always see if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.

Great job moms!

Poker baby

2010-06-03T16:18:00.000-07:00

I found this poker table on Craigslist, it is perfect for the rumpus room... So, I snatched it up for 140.00 and it is the big dog's fathers day present. Only thing is once we got it home, it needs some TLC, so I am thinking of painting it black and re-doing the faux leather top in black as well... It is a bumper pool table, card table, and poker table all in one. Also needs some cool chairs to go around.... I will post the after pictures in a few weeks, but had to get this up here before I found myself neglecting my poor blog again! ;)

2010-05-25T09:46:00.000-07:00

A day full of fun making our own bubble wands with wire, look how much my baby has grown!! xo

I'm BAAACK!!!

2010-05-25T09:40:00.000-07:00

Ok, after my long neglected days of no blog entries, I am back and ready to go full force. What exactly will I be blogging about? Who knows, but I'm sure it will have everything to do with being a military wife, stay at home mom, all things domestic, photography, decorating and renovating our new house (finally a home owner!) and especially my adorable little ladies (pics to follow)! Thanks for coming along for the ride and hope to hear from you all! xo

Summer Fun & Snap shots

2009-06-10T16:13:00.000-07:00

I am going to do a SUMMER FUN series on the blog. All summer long the girls and I have logged the fun things we want to do before school starts, each girl gets to pick from the list and we will try and fill the summer with as many activities from the list as possible. I will be posting pictures on here and writing about each activity. I will not have all three kids in each picture set, (although they will all participate) and I will be writing about what we did, and who liked it, who didn't and so on.
This is for my record and to preserve these things as much as possible.
All of these are going to be snap shots, or what I like to call "Mom Shots" Random snapped pictures which I ignore all of my OCD tendencies with taking portraits and just snap a random shot. This is so I don't have to worry about what is in focus or the speed or any other setting I should use. As in the pictures from the last post. This is all going to be all of the girls enjoying summer break and letting our hair down, so enjoy the count down until school begins again!

** This set of shots is of the "pool days" set. We took all the left over balloons that survived the car ride and filled the pool with them. I bought some extra noodle water guns and they played games like "who can squirt their ball tot he other side the fastest". Daddy tied rope for the older girls to swing on, and when the baby girl got tired of the big girl fun, she went to the upper deck with mom and played in her little pool. Glucklich was so funny trying to make sure everyone was ok the whole time! He's such a daddy dog sometimes. We all had a fun pool day and cant wait to do it all over again!

Summer begins!

2009-06-05T15:07:00.001-07:00

Little one and I blew up many many many balloons (I was trying to be funny in this picture for Emmary who was helping take it, but I come off a little crazy :), I guess I'm a little of both!) and filled the truck and the back and then we decorated the windows to celebrate the last day of school and summer beginning for the older two girls. They were both really excited when they saw and it was very cute to see there faces and to hear them as they walked and then started running to the truck. Reiley even asked "Is it my birthday?" Very sweet girls!!

Emmary was really excited for the girls to come see.
Poor Mrs. Rowlette above... her class next year will seem like a vacation I'm sure of it! ;) Reiley will miss her!!
Bailey's teacher adored her! We will miss her!

We decorated all the windows and Emmary even scribbled some love messages to the girls.... She is a sweet heart!
Ok, this is the summer kick off for us, I cant wait for the fun to begin! Starting ..... NOW!

That didn't last too long.

2009-06-03T15:53:00.000-07:00

So the fish are no more. One by one they were leaving us, so my oldest daughter set three of the five to sea (as they were salt water fish)
Good bye fish who never kissed our fingers. Goodbye to your little dirty bowl I had to clean three times a week, good bye to having to remind the baby to stop putting her hand in the tank, goodbye to wild woman splashing your water, good bye to feeding you and telling the girls to stop over feeding you, good bye to measuring out the salt for your new water, good bye to you darting to the bottom of the bowl when someone walked by your tank.... Good bye.... I am sure all the crazy reaching in the tank prepared you for life in the ocean and you will be rock steady ready if a predator comes your way! Good luck and good bye little fishies!

Odwalla Plants free trees.....

2009-06-02T19:05:00.001-07:00

* Plant a tree with the click of your mouse, for free *

Very cool that this company is doing this. Odwalla is planting trees for free if you go to the link and click on your state, they plant a tree in your state park. The site gives lots of tree info and why they are good for us, but more importantly, they are helping those Americans who want to make a difference, but do not have the means to in this economy.
I commend this company, and feel even better for buying Odwalla drinks for my little ones to drink as we roll around Target to keep them satisfied and happy (ok, yes, I do get them a cinnamon pretzle too and a diet coke for myself! ;)

CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW:
http://www.parkvisitor.com/odwalla/

The Redwoods

2009-05-24T15:08:00.000-07:00

They were enormous and beautiful... The Redwoods are so awesome due to the sheer size, but also to realize some of those babies are 2000 years old! It is just amazing. The trip there was not so bad, but we definitely had our share of whining. After everyone ate the picnic lunch we started off exploring... And without skipping a beat our second daughter had a melt down. I was afraid the trip was not such a good idea, but then her daddy took her and the dog in one direction, and I took off in the other with the oldest and youngest... and I have to say, once we split up, it was enjoyable! Daddy even said the wildness went tame on his end too! I got some nice shots and we enjoyed the rest of the time there. Wild woman even found a worm (pictured) she named him "Silky" We met back up to finish exploring and Silky stayed on the walk through the gigantic trees the rest of the day until it was ( just in time) time to pack up and depart.
Although it is hard, and gets harder the older the kids get, I love that the military sends us to different places around the world. My children have had so many more opportunities to experience such beautiful things than I did growing up and I am very thankful about that!

* Gluten Free Cake & Icing Recipe *

2009-05-21T18:37:00.000-07:00

A recipe I made... I love being able to say that... I am sure other people have something similar, I mean it is food, but I baked it from my own head and used what I have learned from the GFCF diet. I just found out that a relative of mine was diagnosed Celiac disease. This is where the body can not process Gluten properly and can effect multiple organs and have both short and long term effects if left un treated.
So I took my know how of the GFCF diet and made a recipe for a small yellow cake with a chocolate peanut butter frosting... This was a HUGE hit! It DOES have butter in it, (like I said, my grandparents and ancestors would roll over in their graves if we went dairy free) but besides that, which can be substituted for those who are vegan, it is completely GFCF...... So I dedicate this to my cousin, in hopes that she can find her way though this difficult tim e of figuring out all the recipes that are good, and finding great recipes she can hand down through her generations to come!
** The Chocolate Peanut butter Icing **
1/3 Cup water
1/4 Cup corn starch
3/4 Cup's Agave Nectar
1/2 Cup Peanut butter (or whatever nut butter you use)
1/3 Cup cocoa powder
3 teaspoons vanilla extract (I used Tahitian from Trader Joe's)
1/4 soy milk (or almond, any milk substitute to keep it vegan or Casein free)

**DIRECTIONS**
Mix water and cornstarch in a pot and warm...

. * Do not walk away and forget pot while mixing other ingredients or you will end up with this and have to wash the pot and start over..... Yeah, not a good idea ;)

*That's better, combine fully and heat until all is combined and looks starchy enough for you.
*Next in a clean mixing bowl, add the starch water and rest of the ingredients minus the peanut butter.
* It will look slightly watery and take a few minutes to combine fully.
* Last add peanut butter and put your mixer or beater on high ( or use those triceps and get a good work out!) and beat on high until it looks thicker...
* Still a little drippy, but that is what I was going for (Put it in the fridge for 30 minutes and it will firm up more)

** The Cake **
1/4 Cups Flour
1/4 Cup white sugar
1/8 Cup light brown sugar
1/2 stick soften butter
1 teaspoon Baking powder
2 Eggs

** Directions**
Combine all and mix until smooth

* Mixing complete
*Grease loaf pan with coconut oil
* Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes
* Cut into bite sized pieces
* Arrange on a plate and pour your icing over top however you like (there will be MUCH more icing than you need for this, freeze left over icing for the next time you make the cake)
** BLIND TASTE TEST**
ok...
mmmmmmmm!
OH YEAH!
mmmmmm
seconds, try fourths!
And fifths please!
I like it, can I really have more?

This was the funniest picture I got! Dripping and oozing chocolate, eyes wide with anticipation of the taste liking her fingers as if there were none left on the plate, they all loved it, but my girl who I started the journey for, really loves it and has no clue it is anything other than "Yummy cake mom, thanks for the treat!"
Worth all the effort of having to think outside the box.....

Here's a re-cap

** The Chocolate Peanut butter icing **
1/3 Cup water
1/4 Cup corn starch
3/4 Cup's Agave Nectar
1/2 Cup Peanut butter (or whatever nut butter you use)
1/3 Cup cocoa powder
3 teaspoons vanilla extract (I used Tahitian from Trader Joe's)
1/4 soy milk (or almond, any milk substitute to keep it vegan or Casein free)

**DIRECTIONS**
Mix water and cornstarch in a pot and warm.... Do not walk away and forget pot while mixing other ingredients or you will end up with this and have to wash the pot and start over..... Yeah, not a good idea ;) Combine fully and heat until all is combined and looks starchy enough for you.
Next in a clean mixing bowl, add the starch water and rest of the ingredients minus the peanut butter. Last add peanut butter and put your mixer or beater on high ( or use those triceps and get a good work out!) and beat on high until it looks thicker... (Put it in the fridge for 30 minutes and it will firm up more)

**The Cake**
1/4 Cups Flour
1/4 Cup white sugar
1/8 Cup light brown sugar
1/2 stick soften butter
1 teaspoon Baking powder
2 Eggs

** DIRECTIONS**
Combine all and mix until smooth
Grease loaf pan with coconut oil and pour batter in
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes
Cut into bite sized pieces
Arrange on a plate and drizzle icing all over top
Enjoy!

Convert-O Bike

2009-05-18T08:42:00.000-07:00

Check out this cool toy... A tricycle that converts into a big kid bike by taking off the axle and inserting one of the back wheels. Very cool... But at 325 US dollars, a little too steep for me... I think it is available in the NE. so my European friends may be able to find one at a bargain! Here is the link to the US store that sells it (a favorite modern store of mine called Design Within Reach)
http://www.dwr.com/product/accessories/recreation/convert-o-bike-tricycle.do?sortby=ourPicks

To photoshop or not to.... That is the question

2009-05-16T10:44:00.000-07:00

(from the blog "The J- Walk)

Another look at this burning question of mine.... Man oh man do I love some of the pictures that come from Photoshop.. I truly do and I go back and forth on this all the time, but I read a blog and it just kind of leaves a bad taste in my mouth, like how far will a person go for a good shot...

The photo above is from a Photographer who deliberatly made kids cry and then took the shot and then photoshopped it. The end result is a cool shot, but really has the art of Photography gone out and the art of painting taken over? I battle back and forth because I can see that it does produce great work, but there is a line some people cross, so should I say I will never do it... Is it all or nothing? This is a battle I struggle with because I still am learning so much and I know I could go shop a lot of my mistakes, but then I would never learn how to get it right and what to do better next time in the camera to better myself on my joouney to become good at what I do. I am not a perfectionist so I deal a lot with my errors and I have pictures both untouched and touched. I know of a Photographer who balances this wonderfully, but I still struggle with what I should do and if I should draw the line in the sand or not. So far so good for trying not to, I have not touched any of the new ones... But does that mean I wont in the future... I dont think it does. I guess this is just my journey to see there is a line, and forcing kids to cry and then photoshopping little kids to get a good shot is not somewhere I want to go.... I like the old school principles of waiting, even if it is a LONG time, for a good shot, and then in a split second capturing it in the camera..... To me it is like the old school principle of working hard in your youth and reeping the benefits of living comfortably when you are older. I know with digital it is instant gratification, but when did the pendulum swing so far? Not everyone's does and this is something I will definitly think about and take into consideration.
Here is the link:
http://j-walkblog.com/index.php?/weblog/posts/crying_kids/

Oh Daniel-son.....

2009-05-15T15:11:00.000-07:00

This should not make me so happy....

2009-05-13T16:27:00.001-07:00

Today at Target I stumbled upon a new product by Scotch Bright 3M.... We all know I love their products, and now there is a "green" version??!! I really feel like I have to say I am not a tree hugger, but I do have it in my blood and get too excited when I find products that help me in my mommy job at home and are natural because I feel better when I use things like that.
Anyhow, the brown cloth is made from Bamboo, it is SO soft! The sponge has a scrubby side and a soft side. The hard scrubby side is made from the Agave. It could only get better if they would have used coconut! ;)

A total coco-nut!

2009-05-12T16:27:00.000-07:00

Here is the coconut oil I use for those out there who asked about it. (Spectrum- organic virgin coconut oil, unrefined) Below you can see that it comes as a more solid (but not too hard) consistency. This is perfect for any beauty uses it has. You can also heat it (I put it in the microwave for 30 seconds) and it liquefies clear the same as every other oil out there, but has a slight coconut flavoring, so this is perfect for baking or cooking Asian type foods in a skillet.
The last picture is of a yummy low fat treat by Dreyers, coconut fruit bars! They are Gluten free and perfect for my little lady who I am trying the new diet with (Also the rice in the jar behind the coconut oil is good for this diet too, we have to stay away from brown rice and all things containing wheat)
Anyhow, most of Dreyer's fruit bars are not only Gluten free, but also Casein free (GF/CF will be a term I use on here) She happens to want every flavor of them, but NOT coconut! What do I say abou that? The same thing anyone with kids would say, good, more for me! ;)
truely I am a little coconut crazy, and not ashamed to admit it! Between that and my love of the garlic, rosemerry, olive oil trifecta, my taste buds are always happy! I will have to post on that later!

It's not wife's day people!

2009-05-11T18:51:00.000-07:00

These are what my little girls call "Kissing fish" .... So I wake up to Mother's day with my husband who made an omelet for me. Not in his bag 'o tricks, and since we did not have any new eggs, he used an old one... Yes people, I ate a rotten egg omelet for breakfast. But I did appreciate the thought. Until my belly started hurting and UNTIL I asked where the loot was... I mean, I always get a gift on mother's day, so why is this any different.... Then I was informed that it was not wife's day, so since I was not his mother, there was no gift for me.... (no he did not send his mom one either, so there lies the truth!)
Anyhow, my feelings were hurt and I decided to give my second born daughter a gift of using this lapse of judgment on her father's part as an excuses to buy her the fish she has been wanting.
Now these are salt water fish and since my toddler thought it would be fun to sprinkle the extra salt in there, I put them in a measuring cup to clean the bowl.. (Where does she get the energy, one, and two, find new things to make a mess out of?.. I will never know!)

By the way, these stupid fish have yet to kiss any of us! Just what I needed, someone else with attitude in the house! :)

All in all, I was able to relax. My oldest gave me a foot rub, my middle told me she was on her best behavior because it was "Mutters day" and the baby cuddled up and watched a movie. All in all a good day was had by me and I wish I had more relaxing days!!

I hope you all had a happy mother's day... Even though, It's not wife's day people! ;)

Prints

2009-05-07T09:25:00.000-07:00

OH how I love getting prints!!! And the process and paper I use is SO expensive, that I have to be careful with what I print out and what I keep digital. Recently I went through all my family pictures to decide what I print from trips and of my kiddos..... I thought I was being very selective, until I ended up with 95! Yes, that is almost 100 prints that I loved and wanted to print...
So now I am at the point of thinking, it is actually a great idea to put 95 pictures up on one wall. A wall of a hundred portraits... has a nice ring to it. And I can swap them in and out as I find new portraits I just cant live without seeing and put the others in an album.... This wall is a great idea, but not here at the rented beach house (I say that as it is an old 70's house right on the beach filled with old wood and really needs some structural love, love that does not include 95 holes!) So this project will be at our next assignment where the plan is to buy our first home and make it ours. So this wall of a hundred portraits is a plan in the making, but I am going to print pictures off now and that is a lot of dough.... Here are just a few of the hundred I will be printing. It is SO eclectic of a mix, mixing random snap shots with portraits, color, black and white....but that is what I like.

trying a little something new.... ish

2009-05-06T10:47:00.001-07:00

So my little middle lady has had a tough time finding her way through this wonky world and I have had my ups and downs trying to figure out things that would help her the best I can.... It has been 7 years and no solution seems to be a fit, but here I am re-visiting things of old which did not work for us in the past, but I have a renewed outlook and hoping a new change of diet will help a little for her. She is such a picky eater anyhow, but I can try to work my mommy magic on her! ;)
So there is a bakery in New York called "Baby Cakes" it is an Allergy free bakery. The owner has been featured in Martha Stewart's magazine and on her show. As you guys know, I try to be more healthful, as much as a normal person can without going into the full blown tree huggin hippie heritage I have running through my bones, so this is hard for me as I love to mix bought and home made things. And getting my husband on board will have to be by blind tasting first before he knows the difference.

http://www.babycakesnyc.com/

Anyhow, I am going to list a few substitutions for baking Allergy free and then post pictures from my first (blind) taste test. I will also be buying a few highly recommended books and posting about those if this is a success.
I tried a diet called the Feingold diet before which did not work other than to annoy my family, but this is different than that a little and after finding these yummy treats from Baby Cakes, I am hopeful to find something that will pass the sweet tooth test (my husband and I have one true vice, chocolate!)
Don't think I am off my rocker just yet, I am as big of a sceptic as they come, so you will be hearing what I really think about this stuff, but I have read really great reviews about this stuff, so we will see.

*****************************************************************************************
SUBSTITUTIONS:
Cow's milk can be substituted part-for-part by rice milk or soy milk
- Instead of eggs, you can use 3 tablespoons of applesauce for each egg
- You can substitute sugar with agave nectar, which comes from a cactus and can be found in your organic supermarket
- Use 2/3 cup agave nectar per 1 cup of sugar

(I have personally used coconut oil for all my baking for a while- she uses both canola oil and coconut as well... I remain a fan of the coconut as you can use it not only for baking, but put it in a separate jar or mason jar for lip moisturizer or a mild non greasy body moisturizer-- it comes in a stiffer consistency when you buy it (perfect for beauty) and you measure it out and microwave it and it becomes the clear liquid to bake with-- .... it smells yummy, you just have to like coconut flavoring!)

******************************************************************************************

This is the new book by baby cakes I will be buying if the recipes go over well.... I will post pictures of my attempt at making them for my unsuspecting family! We will soon see what they really think! :)

Off the Wagon again.

2009-05-04T19:45:00.000-07:00

i am a color freak. I just love pictures in color. It is so hard for me to convert once I see my image already on that digital screen... I guess it is because my specialty is child & family Photography... I have not gone over to Photoshop yet. I have recently played around with color and so on in post production on my computer's basic levels that it does, and going black and white or sepia, but beyond that, I am not a believer just yet.... My reasoning is because I want to remember my kiddos the way they really were.... I mean, I am a Photographer, not a painter, and I want to look back in years and know in my heart of hearts, that YES her eyes were that blue or had that much green in them or her hair was that exact shade of blondie colored.... I do not touch levels in the work I do for other people other than very very basic things they may want. I try my best to in camera edit and do the best job I know how to do with the knowledge I have of Photography, lighting, angles, my camera, and that person... I really try to pre-plan as I have to work quick quick when I work with kids... But I do like seeing the difference between color and going black and white and Sepia... there is a line of going over board witht he Photo editing, and I am not on a high horse, as I have gone over board with my own personal pictures trying to get the hang of it and see if I like it and see just what I could do.... But looking back, I am more please with all my un-touched portraits and the ones I only did basic things on.
So in the end, it is a personal thing. To retouch or not to. I was thinking it was the way to go with so many Photographers doing it these days just to keep up, but I really am off of that kick. Not to insult their work, it is great work for what they wan tto accomplish, but my clients know what they come to me for, and it is natural work... If a mom has some post baby blemishes she wants me to get rid of will I, sure, but I will not be touching kids unless there is a specific scare or personal reason. I want the skinned knees of my girls because that is who they were.. I dont want to forget these things and have a false sense of who they were when I am getting old and the fine details are blurry. My clients share my oppinion and see my work. They know I will work hard to get good shots.
Some people love the end result, and if it is what they really love, then to me, it was necessary for them to do. Photos to me are meant to spark emotion or thought and what is beautiful to one, may not be to another. I have noticed for my own eye that I truely prefer an image that has stayed more true to natural shot, weather it is in color, black and white, or sepia... (although I have a few favorites of my own that are cropped and shopped) This is very controversal in the Photography buisness, but I think only when one Photography is taking Pot shots on antoher's work does it become a hot botton subject. From previous posts, you already know I am not competetive in nature, only with myself. SO I truley am my own worst critic, and even if someone does something I do not, I can still find the beauty in their work and look at it from their perspective....
So I am laying it out there, you may see some altered portraits, but from this point out I am focusing on going on the most mild of post production editing that I see best for each portrait... I will keep you posted on that as I go along....

Just a few things that work for me.....

2009-05-04T12:42:00.000-07:00

I LOVE these "Scotch Bright" 3M rags. It is nice to use old t-shirts to wash the cars or whatever, some people prefer to use them for everything, but I love these as they are micro fiber, and made in a way that just picks up all the junk I am trying to clean or polish....
This is my sink and you can see, not everything is home made, but the big green container is my all purpose cleaner, with the Scotch Bright towel handy to use with it! And the white one is the lemon/olive oil for furniture polish. I had to change out my bottle on that as the nozzle was not spraying right.... And I definitely love the Lysol antibacterials for things that need an extra deep clean, like after I chop chicken or something, I have them in my messy girls bathrooms, I use them sparingly, but I definitely love them!
Ok, I got this trick many years ago from my friend who was telling me her husband did this.... To be honest, she was.... well, Ok, she was not happy about it as she said it went over the OCD line, but I happened to LOVE it! She and her husband by the way are awesome, and have many great ideas, but as a house wife, I was happy to steal this one from him! Each girls socks shrink a little or new ones are bigger and when I am doing laundry with the EXACT same socks, hundreds of them, I end up with a mound of socks.... This drives me NUTS when I have to lay them all out and try to figure out where this one goes and then when I pull them out, I see "Oh the little girls got mixed up and these don't fit you"
DRIVES ME BONKERS, I HATE MATCHING SOCKS!!!
So now they are each initialed and numbered as soon as the package is opened with a sharpie. I took a picture of her with old ones on so you can see, they are still numbered, and for me the system works. It is a MILLION times faster putting the socks together!
I now do this with all of our socks, so if your house has a shoes off rule, (like my next home will be) Then you will see the initial "D" and a number on my toes!!! ;)
These are just a few tricks that work for me.... Post a few of your own, but be willing to have the idea stolen form you, as I love all tips and tricks of organizing the home that has children in it and I find comfort finding new great ideas!

HAPPY EARTH DAY!!!!

2009-04-22T08:37:00.001-07:00

Ok, so it is earth day, so I had to write a post on some more environmentally friendly cleaning products... Sorry, I was raised by hippies! I do it not to fight the cause, but because I am tired of all the chemicals around my babies and my life. It has gotten too much for me, and I have very VERY exploratory children! They want to get into and test everything I have or touch... A big issue for me! ALSO, it is MUCH MUCH cheaper to make your own! And easier than having to run to the store, if you have the recipe, you can just whip it up with your ingredients, or borrow the neighbors. It is easyy on the earth, house, and on the wallet! What a win win...

Anyhow, here are a few tips (no a ton of tips) from a website called eartheasy.com ENJOY!!!!

Bathroom mold: Mold in bathroom tile grout is a common problem and can be a health concern. Mix one part hydrogen peroxide (3%) with two parts water in a spray bottle and spray on areas with mold. Wait at least one hour before rinsing or using shower.

Carpet stains: Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spray directly on stain, let sit for several minutes, and clean with a brush or sponge using warm soapy water.
For a heavy duty carpet cleaner, mix 1/4 cup each of salt, borax and vinegar. Rub paste into carpet and leave for a few hours. Vacuum.

Chopping block cleaner: Rub a slice of lemon across a chopping block to disinfect the surface. For tougher stains, squeeze some of the lemon juice onto the spot and let sit for 10 minutes, then wipe.

Coffee and tea stains: Stains in cups can be removed by applying vinegar to a sponge and wiping. To clean a teakettle or coffee maker, add 2 cups water and 1/4 cup vinegar; bring to a boil. Let cool, wipe with a clean cloth and rinse thoroughly with water.

Deodorize:
• Plastic food storage containers - soak overnight in warm water and baking soda
• In-sink garbage disposal units - grind up lemon or orange peel in the unit
• Carpets - sprinkle baking soda several hours before vacuuming
• Garage, basements - set a sliced onion on a plate in center of room for 12 - 24 hours

Dishwasher Soap: Mix equal parts of borax and washing soda, but increase the washing soda if your water is hard.
If you want to use a commercial dishwashing soap, try Ecover Ecological or Trader Joe's powders, which contain no bleach or phosphates.

Dishwashing Soap: Commercial low-phosphate detergents are not themselves harmful, but phosphates nourish algae which use up oxygen in waterways. A detergent substitution is to use liquid soap. Add 2 or 3 tablespoons of vinegar to the warm, soapy water for tough jobs.

Disinfectant: Mix 2 teaspoons borax, 4 tablespoons vinegar and 3 cups hot water. For stronger cleaning power add 1/4 teaspoon liquid castile soap. Wipe on with dampened cloth or use non-aerosol spray bottle. (This is not an antibacterial formula. The average kitchen or bathroom does not require antibacterial cleaners.)
To disinfect kitchen sponges, put them in the dishwasher when running a load.

Drain Cleaner: For light drain cleaning, mix 1/2 cup salt in 4 liters water, heat (but not to a boil) and pour down the drain. For stronger cleaning, pour about 1/2 cup baking soda down the drain, then 1/2 cup vinegar. The resulting chemical reaction can break fatty acids down into soap and glycerine, allowing the clog to wash down the drain. After 15 minutes, pour in boiling water to clear residue. Caution: only use this method with metal plumbing. Plastic pipes can melt if excess boiling water is used. Also, do not use this method after trying a commercial drain opener--the vinegar can react with the drain opener to create dangerous fumes.

Fabric softener: To reduce static cling, dampen your hands, then shake out your clothes as you remove them from the drier. Line-drying clothing is another alternative.

Floor Cleaner and Polish:

vinyl and linoleum: mix 1 cup vinegar and a few drops of baby oil in 1 gallon warm water. For tough jobs, add 1/4 cup borox. Use sparingly on lineoleum.
wood: apply a thin coat of 1:1 vegetable oil and vinegar and rub in well.
painted wood: mix 1 teaspoon washing soda into 1 gallon (4L) hot water.
brick and stone tiles: mix 1 cup white vinegar in 1 gallon (4L) water; rinse with clear water.
Most floor surfaces can be easily cleaned using a solution of vinegar and water. For damp-mopping wood floors: mix equal amounts of white distilled vinegar and water. Add 15 drops of pure peppermint oil; shake to mix.

Furniture Polish: For varnished wood, add a few drops of lemon oil into a 1/2 cup warm water. Mix well and spray onto a soft cotton cloth. Cloth should only be slightly damp. Wipe furniture with the cloth, and finish by wiping once more using a dry soft cotton cloth.
For unvarnished wood, mix two tsps each of olive oil and lemon juice and apply a small amount to a soft cotton cloth. Wring the cloth to spread the mixture further into the material and apply to the furniture using wide strokes. This helps distribute the oil evenly.

Laundry Detergent: Mix 1 cup Ivory soap (or Fels Naptha soap), 1/2 cup washing soda and 1/2 cup borax. Use 1 tbsp for light loads; 2 tbsp for heavy loads.

Lime Deposits: You can reduce lime deposits in your teakettle by putting in 1/2 cup (125ml) white vinegar and 2 cups water, and gently boiling for a few minutes. Rinse well with fresh water while kettle is still warm.

Marks on walls and painted surfaces: Many ink spots, pencil, crayon or marker spots can be cleaned from painted surfaces using baking soda applied to a damp sponge. Rub gently, then wipe and rinse.

Metal Cleaners and Polishes:

aluminum: using a soft cloth, clean with a solution of cream of tartar and water.
brass or bronze: polish with a soft cloth dipped in lemon and baking-soda solution, or vinegar and salt solution.
chrome: polish with baby oil, vinegar, or aluminum foil shiny side out.
copper: soak a cotton rag in a pot of boiling water with 1 tablespoon salt and 1 cup white vinegar. Apply to copper while hot; let cool, then wipe clean. For tougher jobs, sprinkle baking soda or lemon juice on a soft cloth, then wipe. For copper cookware, sprinkle a lemon wedge with salt, then scrub.
gold: clean with toothpaste, or a paste of salt, vinegar, and flour.
silver: line a pan with aluminum foil and fill with water; add a teaspoon each of baking soda and salt. Bring to a boil and immerse silver. Polish with soft cloth.
stainless steel: clean with a cloth dampened with undiluted white vinegar, or olive oil. For stainless cookware, mix 4 tbs baking soda in 1 qt water, and apply using a soft cloth. Wipe dry using a clean cloth.

Mold and Mildew: Use white vinegar or lemon juice full strength. Apply with a sponge or scrubby.

Mothballs: The common mothball is made of paradichlorobenzene, which is harmful to liver and kidneys. Cedar chips in a cheesecloth square, or cedar oil in an absorbant cloth will repel moths. The cedar should be 'aromatic cedar', also referred to as juniper in some areas. Cedar chips are available at many craft supply stores, or make your own using a plane and a block of cedar from the lumberyard.
Homemade moth-repelling sachets can also be made with lavender, rosemary, vetiver and rose petals.
Dried lemon peels are also a natural moth deterrent - simply toss into clothes chest, or tie in cheesecloth and hang in the closet.

Oil and Grease Spots: For small spills on the garage floor, add baking soda and scrub with wet brush.

Oven Cleaner: Moisten oven surfaces with sponge and water. Use 3/4cup baking soda, 1/4cup salt and 1/4cup water to make a thick paste, and spread throughout oven interior. (avoid bare metal and any openings) Let sit overnight. Remove with spatula and wipe clean. Rub gently with fine steel wool for tough spots. Or use Arm & Hammer Oven Cleaner, declared nontoxic by Consumers Union.

Paint Brush Cleaner: Non-toxic, citrus oil based solvents are now available commercially under several brand names. Citra-Solve is one brand. This works well for cleaning brushes of oil-based paints. Paint brushes and rollers used for an on-going project can be saved overnight, or even up to a week, without cleaning at all. Simply wrap the brush or roller snugly in a plastic bag, such as a used bread or produce bag. Squeeze out air pockets and store away from light. The paint won't dry because air can't get to it. Simply unwrap the brush or roller the next day and continue with the job.
Fresh paint odors can be reduced by placing a small dish of white vinegar in the room.

Rust Remover: Sprinkle a little salt on the rust, squeeze a lime over the salt until it is well soaked. Leave the mixture on for 2 - 3 hours. Use leftover rind to scrub residue.

Scouring Powder: For top of stove, refrigerator and other such surfaces that should not be scratched, use baking soda. Apply baking soda directly with a damp sponge.

Shoe Polish: Olive oil with a few drops of lemon juice can be applied to shoes with a thick cotton or terry rag. Leave for a few minutes; wipe and buff with a clean, dry rag.

Stickers on walls: Our children covered the inside of their room doors with stickers. Now they are grown, but the stickers remained. To remove, sponge vinegar over them several times, and wait 15 minutes, then rub off the stickers. This also works for price tags (stickers) on tools, etc.

Toilet Bowl Cleaner: Mix 1/4 cup baking soda and 1 cup vinegar, pour into basin and let it set for a few minutes. Scrub with brush and rinse. A mixture of borax (2 parts) and lemon juice (one part) will also work.

Tub and Tile Cleaner: For simple cleaning, rub in baking soda with a damp sponge and rinse with fresh water. For tougher jobs, wipe surfaces with vinegar first and follow with baking soda as a scouring powder. (Vinegar can break down tile grout, so use sparingly.)

Wallpaper Remover: Mix equal parts of white vinegar and hot water, apply with sponge over the old wallpaper to soften the adhesive. Open room windows or use a fan to dissipate the pungent vinegar smell.

Water Rings on Wood: Water rings on a wooden table or counter are the result of moisture that is trapped under the topcoat, but not the finish. Try applying toothpaste or mayonnaise to a damp cloth and rub into the ring. Once the ring is removed, buff the entire wood surface.

Window Cleaner: Mix 2 teaspoons of white vinegar with 1 liter (qt) warm water. Use crumpled newspaper or cotton cloth to clean. Don't clean windows if the sun is on them, or if they are warm, or streaks will show on drying. The All-Purpose Cleaner (above) also works well on windows. Be sure to follow the recipe, because using too strong a solution of vinegar will etch the glass and eventually cloud it.

Healthy Home Cleaning Habits

Exchange Indoor Air:
Many modern homes are so tight there's little new air coming in. Open the windows from time to time or run any installed exhaust fans. In cold weather, the most efficient way to exchange room air is to open the room wide - windows and doors, and let fresh air in quickly for about 5 minutes. The furnishings in the room, and the walls, act as 'heat sinks', and by exchanging air quickly, this heat is retained.
Minimize Dust:
Remove clutter which collects dust, such as old newspapers and magazines. Try to initiate a 'no-shoes-indoors' policy. If you're building or remodelling a home, consider a central vacuum system; this eliminates the fine dust which portable vacuum cleaners recirculate.
Keep Bedrooms Clean:
Most time is spent in the bedrooms. Keep pets out of these rooms, especially if they spend time outdoors.
Use Gentle Cleaning Products:
Of the various commercial home cleaning products, drain cleaners, toilet bowl cleaners and oven cleaners are the most toxic. Use the formulas described above or purchase 'green' commercial alternatives. Avoid products containing ammonia or chlorine, or petroleum-based chemicals; these contribute to respiratory irritation, headaches and other complaints.
Clean from the Top Down:
When house cleaning, save the floor or carpet for last. Allow time for the dust to settle before vacuuming.

Easter in California....

2009-04-12T18:47:00.001-07:00

Nana asked us to get a few pictures in the Easter dresses she sent to us in the mail, so we went to the front of our house by the boardwalk. The wind was blowing so much today...

So we went down to build sandcastles.

An Easter castle perfect for any California bunny!

We had to go wash off our feet and jump a few waves when we were done.

Cozy Rosey - Project Bunny!

2009-04-12T18:31:00.000-07:00

Here is a project I started and finished today. My second Reiley girl asked why the Easter bunny did not bring her a stuffed animal... Then she asked if I could make her a bunny.... So I made this one we are calling Cozy Rosey. I used pink dot minky, a few glass beads, one button, and some cute Amy Butler material for around the neck and on the feet. I used yellow embroidery thread for the whiskers. For the fill, I used dry brown rice to add a little weight.

Here I am putting the green glass beads onto the cut out body, I also used yellow in the middle of the eye.

I have the minky being cut here and there is my emdroidery thread behind, which I ended up switching from pink to yellow for the whiskers.

Here she is finished, she is not perfect, but we like her! I am going to give her to Reiley on her birthday in a few days.

Egg Hunt Dress

2009-04-10T14:13:00.001-07:00

This is the dress I started this morning, so I am happy with how it turned out for a quick sewing project. I really wanted a cute little dress she could throw on in the morning and hunt eggs! She loves it, so I am happy and the pocket in the front is perfect fro her as she loves to gather stuff and bring it with her!

Our little peanut butter cup!

2009-04-08T15:51:00.000-07:00

A good friend of mine called me from Germany, and as we caught up laughing and groaning over some mundane military wife type conversation, my second, almost 7 year old, daughter Reiley asks me "Mom, can I have a snack?... (me)Sure, something healthy (R) How about peanut butter with some carrots? (me) Ok" End of conversation right??!!
OOOOH how wrong was I to say yes to this request in a weak mommy moment to get a few more minutes of uninterupted adult conversation! As I approached the kitchen I saw the mess! Oh no! I gotta go I said, still walking I see the walls and shriek "Oh Emmary baby!" Oh man I have to go, where is she I say in panic of what may possibly be, still walking I see the couch, but then I walk around and see the front of the couch and her little body slathered in peanut butter! And there she was smilling covered, literally from head to toe.... Could I be mad, no! But boy oh boy does this offer more time to clean than I wanted!
I had to let the dog get a lick or two so I could get a picture of that and he could get a treat before I dunked her in the bath tub for a complete scrub down! This was all too funny.
Thank goodness there are no peanut allergies in our family!! Enjoy the pictures ;)

2009-04-04T23:06:00.000-07:00

Oh this Military man and me.... This post was going to have a whole different feel to it, but alas, I just have to mention him and say how much I adore this guy... He is not perfect, but he is mine... And if I put into a computer the perfect qualities to have the perfect husband, there are a few FOR CERTAIN I would leave out, but I am sure he would do the same making the perfect wife.... So there we are. Two imperfect people who make it work with each others flaws.... Not even flaws, but he is the very precise, things MUST be a certain way, kind of guy, and I am much more laid back, go with the flow... So there lies our conflicts... Nothing major, all "dealable" (yes I make up words sometimes too, a talent I possess) and here we are with three kiddos, a wonder dog and the traveling Brood collectively works somehow, and somehow it is great...... Now if we get in a heated battle over me crackling my gum inside my mouth, or him going into super OCD mode over my domain, we will both pitch the story of who is the worse partner, but at other times, he just looks at me, and I know he is saying "I love you honey, thanks for being cool about poker night" and I am his, all gooey and 17 again! Those big blue eyes caught me then and he just has a way... Like when I go to battle over a credit card or need customer service, he can go in there and come out in minutes with the right answer in our favor, where I spent two days, and the only answer they give is "Sorry no".... The man got on a flight he was not supposed to with 5 other guys, because he promised me he'd be home on that day from an over seas deployment, don't ask me how, And for those of you who are Apple people, he even turned in a used apple ipod at the PX (who WILL NOT, and has a posted policy they will not take them at all, you have to mail them to apple) and got a new one with more memory, (and yes, I had already worked the issue and here he comes, while I wait in the truck with a new ipod in the bag!!) That is un heard of... He just hears the answer he does not want, and somehow finds a way that his way is the right answer for both parties... and does not budge!
Again, that is such a great quality in ways, and drives me nuts at home! All in all, I just had to say how much I love that guy!
He can charm me and drive me nuts all in the same hour, but I love him. He is an amazing daddy and our three girls adore him the same way I do...... So, the next post can be when he is driving me nuts, but I had to post a nice one first! I love my military man!

2009-04-02T13:14:00.000-07:00

Here are two more great recipes for wiser cleaning. First it saves money, which is ALWAYS a bonus for the military wife, and second, it cuts down the amount of chemicals the little one's are being exposed to around the house, and last it cuts down on waste from the packaging... But a great thing is that what I post, I have made sure that they, not only work, but they have to work as well, if not better than those store bought items, or I just wont use them as it would waste my time, and that, I can not waste.
By the way, I am no tree huger, although my blog was almost titled "Raised by Hippies", which I am still thinking I could change it... I will keep you posted on that one ;)
Anyhow, our skin absorbs so much we put on it. So, this recipe is AMAZING! It is a natural moisturizer, that you will smell so delicious and your skin will thank you a million times!

Rich Body Moisturizer: Take ½ cup coconut oil and mix with a ¼ cup cocoa butter and a few drops of your favorite essential oil (Optional, just use whatever you like the smell of best, I made mine without it)
**( I will also just use the Coconut oil straight, it is something to try if you'd like, but I like it)**

Second is a furniture polish. The store brand stuff is not good. First it is wax passed, petroleum based. They contain other chemicals. It is aerosol and something has to happen to that spray can right? That aside, they are WAY over priced. So a good solution, make the same stuff yourself, save money, and it works Superbly. I also have a few very expensive antique pieces, so I do not fool around when it comes to those!

Lemon Furniture Polish: Squeeze the juice of 5 Lemons, mix in a spray bottle with 1 cup Olive Oil (use the cheap O.O. as this is not salad and it is not going to end up on your booty, so extra virgin is not necessary for this) Shake and use. This is awesome and along with the all purpose cleaner I posted previously, you have two cleaners that will clean just about anything in your home, and do it cheaper and healthier for those with kids.

Beeswax Polish: You can buy this stuff ( http://www.beeswaxpolish.com/ ) or, if you are near a bee farmer, ask them for the good stuff! Refined Bees wax leaves no finger prints, which for moms is greater than words! Use what the bee farmer gives you straight and follow their instructions. This stuff is great in restoring furniture that looks like it has seen it's last days, and then Wah Lah!

BONUS:
I have a dog... He is amazing in every way, but leave the toilet available, and he thinks you very kindly gave him fresh water. This is fine with me, but a good cleaner to keep him safe is TANG.
Yes, the powdered drink mix. I got this from the "Queen of Clean" and I used it when my baby was small and would dump her toys in the toilet when I was not looking and try to... well, put the toy in her mouth! Gag, I know, but kids are kids and I have three, I try to make sure these things don't happen, but sometimes they do.
Anyhow, The acid in the tang cleans the bowl and it is totally safe for kids. Another alternative, that is a little better, but not cheaper, is the lemons.

TOILET CLEANER: cut up the squeezed lemons you used in your furniture polish (small pieces) and let it sit in your toilet over night, in the morning flush and add a little baking soda and scrub. You will have a nice clean toilet.

This is great if you make fresh lemonade for the kiddos, you can even cut and freeze lemons in a zip lock and throw a few pieces in at night when you are looking for a deeper clean.
**On a regular basis, I say do the tang and on a deeper clean, do the lemons.

I hope you guys can use one of these recipes, they all work really really great, although the lotion is my favorite! i have a few more that I love, but I am still looking for a Mr. Clean Magic eraser alternative, until then, he lives as a staple in my house! Like I said, I am no crazy person when it comes to these things, so you will find a mix of store bought and home made natural alternatives in my house on any given day. I prefer to use the home made as much as possible as my 2 year old keeps asking "Mommy can I help cleaning?"

A girls gatta do......

2009-03-11T20:49:00.001-07:00

I had just received this little dress in the mail. The cutest little Baby Nay dress and I knew my girl would look adorable in it! And she did... Until the nail polish incident happened! Oh great, I thought as I looked at this pretty little girl covered in brown and an ugly blue polish.... one color even had sparkles, and this I knew was a lost cause, as those stinkin sparkles wont even come off my toes months after I paint it on there....
Oh but wait... After some googling and the thought process of "What could it hurt, it's already ruined" I turned to Straight full power Acetone. It is clear and not recommended if you have false nails, as it will eat through them in a hurry! It was even eating through the paint on my cabinets as I used it to also clean the floor (hey, I would have used the green solution if I could have, but this was my only option)
So I dabbed and brushed inch by inch and it is finally out!
Dress saved, 3 hours, wasted! :)

Mr. Clean!

2009-03-11T20:15:00.000-07:00

Oh, how I love Mr. Clean magic eraser! It saved me from having to paint my wall yesterday after a toddler play date got a little crazy whilst the mommy was making snacks. Boy oh boy, but they grow so fast I remind myself! ;) target sells a 4 pack for 2 bucks of Target brand which are exactly the same as the Mr. Clean.
I spent a few hours today cleaning all the walls from little hand prints that I have ignored due to a lack of motivation and knowing my energy could be applied to more useful projects... yes, like bibs and dolls and clothes for the kiddos... Anything but deep cleaning right?! I broke out my yellow gloves and bucket, filled with my magic earth solution (recipe bellow) And alas, the walls are ignored no longer! And the return of walls that look like the day we PCS'ed here.... for a little while of course! No, I'm not holding my breath on that one!

Green Clean solution*
A gallon (just fill up however much you think, this is not chemistry) warm or hot water
1/3 (use between 3 tablespoons and a cup - you decide) Vinegar... Whatever you have is fine, it is all vinegar!
Only a few drops (literal drops) of dish soap.... I use between 3 and 6 depending.
OPTIONAL- a few drops of fragrance. I have scented oils, you can use whatever, Like the little oils you would burn in an incense burner..... I add this if I am using the solution on my floors, or counters, but not the walls.

Use this solution all over the house anywhere, and tweak the ratios to what you prefer to work with.

I also leave out the fragrance when I add it to a spray bottle.
I take any old spray bottle (any old one you have from another cleaner and rinse it out until it rinses clean) and fill it with that solution and keep it by my sink... With little ones and dogs, this works wonders and is safe for adventurous little sneaky snakes!
My craftier of friends could even decorate the old bottle, but mine still has half the old label on it!

In The Sand Box.....

2009-03-10T17:42:00.000-07:00

I started the blog to blog about my daily comings and goings.... The little things in my household that make it run or that don't really work for us... from the military wife's perspective of course.
So here we are. In the midst of another deployment.... But dont feel too bad. Yes, it is always dangerous to be in the sand box, but this is a short trip, and also one where my guy is in a situation that is much different than before. So while yes, the area is dangerous and it is always a place not to be taken lightly, this is easy.
The time line is amazing! It could not have come at a better time. Noone is having a birthday, no special occasion, and in this economy, we can DEFINITELY use the extra money. I am so at ease with it too. I really am enjoying my time with my girls and such a relaxed schedule. I usually try and get things done by a certain time so that we can all eat dinner together. I know if I dont get some house hold chore done, my hubby will just jump right in there and do it to help out. So I really want that time where both he and I are just chilling out together and not worried about the house. Now, there is no time line, if I dont get it done, oh well, so it will either get done later, or tomorrow. I LOVE that.
I guess one thing that does not like the deployments are my computer. It is running hot every day (figuratively) I am checking and re checking to see if an e-mail has popped up. Is he ok, is the schedule still the same, does he miss me too. I do not obsess over the little things, but I do hang on the e-mails because let's face it. This is not my business man going on a work trip, this is a war zone.
So since there were no e-mails today, and I knew that if I hit hotmail again, just like opening the fridge door when you are hungry, the same things would still be there, or in this case, not there. So, I decided to blog it.
I will not compalin about the havoc reaked on my house, but my sweet little girls do turn into evil little sprits and with the extra pair of eyes and hands gone, seek out and destroy anything possible... To name a few from only the past couple days
Nail polish all over the bathroom (and a brand new, 1st time worn baby nay dress)
Family sized old fashioned Oatmeal container dumped on the carpet
Crayon all over the wall
And my finger is sliced open due to my oldest saying she was sorry she was lazy and put the potato peeler in a drawer that you have to open with a finger hole, and it was facin blade side out.....

Boy I love deployments! Who's with me on that one? So as I type this out (with a smiley face band aide on my pointer finger) I am complaining, but not really. I have been through many deployments of varying lengths.. This one is more like a visit to the sand box, so I am still alone, but this time it is not coupled with the stress that they ussually are.... The stress of worrying over the saftey of the person you love so much. Ihave friends who are dealing with that,a nd it is by far, not an easy road.... You think if you are strong than you can deal with, and then you are faced with your friends husbands not comming home and reality creeps in that this is war and that is where your husband is at.... And you get scared..... And then there are days you forget to be sad or worried, and those days are amazing! So I write this on such a short deployment, buut not the same perspective I would have if he were doing something other than what he is over there doing now...... And to my friends who have husbands who are, I think of you all the time, and I dont know if today is a good day or a more difficult day for you, but you are in my thoughts and prayers and I pray you have more good thatn bad days ahead of you!!!!

A girl and her dog

2009-03-06T14:06:00.000-08:00

I know, I know, so many pictures of the baby (my baby anyhow) ... But yes, I do have two other children! I will have to get some posts with them on here. Anyhow, I snapped a few candid pictures of my puppy (well, he turned on at the end of January) and when I started my Emmary girl had to then start loving on her puppy, so I could not resist the power of the big floppy dog picture and his girl.
I love the fact that I got him in Germany a year after she was born. He is the sweetest guy ever and I am definitely NOT a dog person, but for him, I am completely in love. As are all of us, but it is sweet to see her growing up with him. Yes, she can be a little toddler and just plop herself right on top of him, but I am amazed that he just looks over at her and blinks his big black eyes like "well, hello you" He reminds us of Peter Pan, the dog "Nana"... Definitely a dog I can say "Glucklich where's the baby" and he goes and taps her with his nose.....

One day Emmary escaped out the fron door. I live on the beach, so this is not a good thing, but I thought she was downsatirs with daddy and that our oldest went out the door, but being vigilant I looked out the window, and who was walking on the boardwalk, but miss. sassy girl! I freaked of course, but to my absolute amazement, I saw Mr. Glucklich right by her hearding her to stop! It was so funny! (funny now) That he knew she was being bad and was out of bounds, so her walked right out the door and stayed by her side.

I could go on and on, but I will spare you that! Just had to gush over the only guy in the house right now.... It really does make us feel safe as they were bred to be NON agressive, but as guard dogs, so he will make an intruder feel like he is having one very bad day... That is the plan at least :)

2009-02-20T20:20:00.000-08:00

Here are a few of the boutique type bibs I have been working on. I know, I am doing so many crafty projects for the little one on here, but I made a dress for my second born which I have not posted... maybe I will later. And my oldest daughter said I can make her a necklace or a book cover..... I can not believe she is almost at the stage where anything I could make would totally lame, but for now, she will still accept a few things so, I will work on something for her next and post it on here. No more new felt dolls yet, but I have plans for those little ladies!
The bibs are made with some funky cotton material on the front that I like, and the back of the pink are done in dot minky, and the blue is done in a faux suede. I used a mother of pearl type snap closure and love these bibs so much for my little toddler. I really hate when she is wearing something cute and I have to cover it up with an ugly bib. I bought similar bibs for 12 US dollars on ebay whille I was in Germany and used them all the time, but the shape was the traditional style, and I think this is cuter for a girl who feeds herself with a big kid fork, spoon, and cup. She does not need the tiny baby bibs anymore anyhow, but the way I made these bibs, the back can fold down over to adjust the fit and make it more snug, plus the minky on the neck can only feel cozy. I pulled hers low in the picture to show that.

Anyhow, I am going to try and sell some of these babies to see if I could make money on them. I love them and have used these from my sweet infant who would need them when feeding, through teething, through first foods, and now with just using them for self feeding..... I can not believe how fast they grow, no matter how many time people said it, it seems like time flies faster and faster with each little lady I have!

Felt babies...

2009-02-11T16:15:00.001-08:00

Holding my new babies....

So these are the latest creations for my little girls. This was an idea I had to do with my mom when she came to visit. There is nothing like giving my mom a craft project to do to keep her busy! Well, we were so busy doing other things and the time flew by so fast that she and I completed a meager two dolls, so she went back home and brought the material with her. Her little fingers started flying and what do you know? We got a box filled with little dolls! She said she went to the craft store to make new ones and we talked ideas for the next ones, so I will post the new ones on here, but aren't they cute? I thought we (she) did a great job! I told her how I now realized how great of an idea it is to outsource cheap labor!
Anyhow, here are a couple other pictures of the dolls. I will be making more and using each holiday to make cute new patterns.... It is great as my third daughter is finally the one who, even though she is rough and tumble, LOVES LOVES LOVES babies and is the sweetest little mama tot hem I have ever seen! It is like looking into a looking glass from when I was a little girl climbing trees, giggling, playing by the pond, and spending hours upon hours playing with my dolls!

All the sleeping babies in a row.

Want one? I have enough to share :)

And then there was one....

2009-02-03T12:34:00.000-08:00

I know what some people may think when they read this. They may think "but you said you were not competitive with others." I am sticking to that point. I am not and do not like people who push their competition onto me or others in an area it does not belong. However I do love to compete with myself and set goals for myself.
I have an over use injury. It is a hip muscle called the Tensor Fascia Lata. What is that? Ok, here it goes,

Tensor Fascia Lata Aids in muscle movements and can also provide an attachment site for muscles and act as a cushioning layer between them. The tensor fascia lata runs from the hip down the thigh and provides stability for the leg as well as medial rotation, or rotation in toward the other leg. It is a muscle I used to think nothing of, but when it hurts, you think of it evrytime you walk, run, sit, stand, go to the bathroom, lay down..... You realise how much one little musclle aids in your body movement....

Now, I have Physical therapy to do and am supposed to lay off of running. I am not a doctor and never second guess one, but I think to myself, How many contestants on the biggest loser lay off a work out? And then I think " Rock it out sister!"
Do not think I am nuts, as I would not try and hurt myself and have backed off slightly, but I am pushing forward on this. I do my Physical therapy and I have to say it feels a hundred and fifty percent better in one day than it has in the past month.

So now for the reference to the first picture. I have backed off of my track workouts. I will be using my track workout too, but I am incorporating some indoor Elliptical stuff too. I have been for the past week. I just have to say..... I am the first one in the cardio room and the last one out. I spend 2 hours on that Elliptical and I am focused on myself and my workout only... Until I turn my head and see I am now the only one in there again as those who came after me and trinkled in are now gone..... That is such a feeling of being proud. I do not know them or think twice about the individuals, but what I do think is that I am kicking my own buttermilk buiscuits in that room and I push longer than most. I know this is no world record, but it is a marked sign of my effort level to me and it makes me proud of myself.

Today I cleared the room twice! TWICE! And people come in all the time, but to see it empty twice made me feel like, I am pushing through this stupid injury. Also, my cardio ability has gone through the roof! I still struggle in areas like my speed during my long runs needs to get faster, but I make smaller goals for myself like distance, and then time.

I am not going to give up because my body is building each muscle back up as a result of me tearing it down. I know how muscles work and since I let all mine take a hiatis, they are all going to tear down, and build back stronger than ever!

My next blog will be on my sit up routine I think... Man..... And to give you a little glimpse I will leave you with this statement, I am no spring chicken!

Closing the gap

2009-01-21T13:41:00.001-08:00

5 MILES: Recently each and every day I have been hitting the synthetic track.... Why? I have roots in cross country, not track. But for me it is a numbers game. I can push myself to do better than the day before purely on numbers... Time, distance, whichever. I do not compete with my fellow runner friends. I actually hate when people do. I rather find common ground in the pursuit of running and being in better shape, and for each of us that is a different goal. I love a supportive spirit, but not a pushing one, as my husband dances right on that line sometimes, he does not mean to... I think it is a boy thing.
I am back in the game now.... And so happy. I checked out for a while with many different reasons and circumstances coming together in a relatively short period of time, but now that I am at the just over 6 month mark of being settled in at the new location, I am back in the game and ready! Bring it on is all I have to say!
*I over worked my hip muscle yesterday- BRING IT ON!
*I had to push the baby in her stroller and all her toys today the whole time- BRING IT ON!
*It started to rain today while I was out there with her, and all I thought was..... You guessed it, BRING IT ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I feel like me again. I had even gone to my doctor thinking something was wrong.... Most all my check ups came back just fine. (I say that because some I get the results for next month, but why wait when your motivated?) So I thought Now is my time to get back in the game. So for a while now I have been hitting it at 5 miles. First it was walking, but slowly closing the gaps and pushing myself harder each time and harder on myself than any trainer could be. I am on a strict eating schedule and so the food blog part of this will not look so round, yet a skinnier version of my old stand by recipes.

I am locked in and focused! I have my eye on the prize and if I have to beg, borrow, or STEAL my time, it is mine again! I am selfish right now and it feels great. I actually have a great plan that fits into the family schedule, but I think my husband looks at me a little differently, like he used to (and that is pretty hot), because I am dead serious about this one and there is NO turning back.

Mom's visit

2009-01-06T15:14:00.000-08:00

A quick update and more to come later.
So, my mom came and went, and we miss her very much! It was very lonely to come home and not see her here. It is funny how I could not wait to get out of my house when I was a teenager, but now I long for my mom time with her so much... I am sure it has something to do with the fact that she is so ubber helpful around the house that I do not have to pick up a finger, or the fact that I am just comfortable around her being myself.... Or maybe that I just needed that mom time to reconnect with her after being gone for so long and being so far away. Either way, it was great to have her here and I will be excited for the next time we can enjoy our time together....

Flight cancelled!

2008-12-23T23:51:00.000-08:00

So, my mom is coming in for the holidays.. The woman who has not flown since I was a baby, so it has been 30 or so years and her flight is delayed. Well, she got through one flight which ran late on Continental, to have a layover for her connecting flight on Continental... Now this is also the woman who gets freaked out over anything going wrong. She was not like this in her youth, but the older she gets, she swears that no matter where you are there are outlandish situations that are not only going to happen, but happen to her! (even when we were going to the happiest place on the planet, Disney world, she lectured us the entire time on crazy people who target places like that... She goes overboard.
So, on top of her anxiety, she has a heart condition which she had open heart for and was already freaked out about the darn flight. I had to beg her to come for years and finally told her I already bought the ticket... so as scared as she was, she was raised to never waste anything, so after that, and some more convincing, she was on her way....
Now a delay, then a canceled flight, then a hotel that sent her and a dozen others away, and more issues has her in a state of traveling no one wants to be in... On top of this she also has a condition with her lymph nodes that they swell and she has to wear special leg wraps (yes if I put all her medical stuff out here it would look like a rap sheet for a nursing home, and I do realize these are the genes I inherited! Someone better be pulling for me up there so I do not have all that stuff to deal with!)
So as we stand right now, it went from a 20 min. delay to a 12 hour delay and hopefully all systems will be in "go mode" in the morning. So here is to my scaredy cat mom who is being broken in on flight issues the old fashioned way. I say face your fears right?! But it is Christmas eve and she did not want to fly on that date and she really wants to make sure she is here by Christmas.... And so do we of course.
This is a Continental flight (first class I might add, lucky her!) and her flight back is a coach Delta flight.... Let's see which she prefers......

Santa and Cocoa

2008-12-22T08:53:00.000-08:00

These are my three little girls with Santa Claus.... We played Santa at home, so I thought I knew what they were going to say.... Until they got in his lap! My second born asked for a T- Rex & hello kitty slippers (the one's she saw in the window walking to see Santa), my baby daughter asked for a trampoline, and my oldest asked for a cat with gray hair and blue eyes! I snapped the picture and looked at my husband and whispered "Looks like we have some shopping to do!" What little hijackers! ;) They are all really into the holidays this year, and so am I. We started making kinderpunsch in October and it has been a spiral down the holiday band wagon ever since! I am glad they are so excited this year, especially since their daddy is home to see it!

Ok, so here is the hot chocolate recipe (one of the many, but this is an old stand by)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ingredients:
6 T. Unsweetened cocoa
6 T. Sugar
Pinch of Salt
2 1/2 cup Milk
2 1/2 cup Light Cream
1/2 t. Vanilla (or more)
*one drop of coconut extract (do not over do it on this one or it will not enhance the flavor, but take it over)
OR
Pinch of Cinnamon Powder (optional)
Whipped Cream (to top)

Put it all in a pot and whisk the heck out of it until it is combined and to the heat you like to drink your cocoa. I suggest doing it on medium heat and only at the end, add heat if you want it to be more hot than warm. Last top with ice cold whipped cream of your choosing and enjoy.

2008-12-19T21:26:00.000-08:00

So, I was adding my wish list to "Williams Sonoma" and found this Hot chocolate maker... I have to admit I am a hot chocolate fanatic and think I have perfected my skills as much as the little elf in the movie "The Santa Claus"... Anyhow, I make mine on the stove from scratch and found this pot and thought, how awesome. It was 40 bucks, on sale for 20, I need it! ...... Then I read the reviews talking about the frothing wand not being reliable and I thought to myself "Wait a second!"
Now fast rewind to August when I found my DREAM blender. A Blendtech blender that can juice, blend, whatever you want it does. It is awesoma nd amazing and I recomend seeing a demo if you can. I actually had a Jack lalane juicer in my cart and while I was on my way to pay saw this guy and after about 30 min, and him making a whole meal with it, I was sold! Anyhow, one of the meals was soup and so I think you are onto me now right?
YES, I will use my blendtech blender on it's soup mode and make hot chocolate... I tried it tonight and it works perfectly! I mean, I dont have to whisk and stand over the stove! If I want it hotter, I just press soup mode a second time and I have perfectly hot hot chocolate with an amazing frothy top and all I had to do was press it and I saved some moolah because I have one machine that can do what it advertises doing which is take the place of many....
Now it does have a heafty price tag, so for those of you who want to save a little (especially now) I saw another macine similar to this one (I have never used it) and it advertises to work similarly.... One is called "Back to basics smoothie blender" and one is "Smoothie Plus 700". Also there is one by Hamilton beech called the wave.
All the different price points, but I can only tell you the quality on mine and I am a huge fan of the Blendtech. It really does make ice into soft snow and there is not a hard peice left in it, then to go to hot soup... I love it. I suggest trying these babies out if you can and freeing up your counter top space! I will post one of my hot chocolate recipies tomorrow!

2008-12-19T20:33:00.000-08:00

SO this is my first blog ever and I am excited to start it now. I guess I should try and think of something extremely catchy to get you all involved and itching to read my next blog, but I am not that creative at the moment as I just got little ones off to bed so I guess I can just sum up a little about me for those of you who may not know me that well and give you a sneak peak on what my blog will be about.
I am a mom of three little girls (that will make you tired:). I stay at home with them and do all the mom type things, so you will be reading many things I find useful in my daily life and routine as far as that goes. Also, I am a Photographer, although since this recent move (we moved state side from Germany to the west coast) I have not started the business side of it back up as I knew this was going to be a big move for me coming off the heels of a huge deployment of my husband's. I will also be blogging about the military side of things as they pertain to my daily life. And of course about my passion, Photography. Really anything and everything that is in my daily life is what you will get. Some posts will be on myself, my husband, my dog, or my girls (all three are so different, My oldest dreamer and animal lover, my second wild little leader who follows her own drum, and my sweet baby who melts my heart)... I really love reading blogs that are honest and put it out there, so that is what I am going to try and do.

I have very creative friends and the people I consider my best friends are the most genuine amazing people on the earth you could every meet! I love them with my whole heart and you will be hearing stories about us too.... names may be changed:) I love creative people and I love finding good deals! I have expensive tastes, but am willing to search for the deal or make something better by doing it myself (remember military budget). My OCD (not really) husband inspires me to be more and more organized and when he is here, I am totally on top of it, but the last deployment he was on, I fell completely off of the organization wagon and went into survival mode, which entailed us using my home as a pit stop for going from one place to another only stopping long enough to change clothes and go to an event or game and eating diner then being so tired that I did not care to exert anymore energy other than that which it took to put kids to bed and crash myself... Until the next day. I can not say it enough, BOY AM I GLAD THAT IS OVER! (For now) Deployments are hard, but the line my husband works and being deployed to a war zone reeks havoc on a wife's stress level. I did not realize how hard it would be as I thought I was one of the strong one's, but I think seeing the pain on my friends face when her husband died the previous year and then having guys get injured and loosing another in the same deployment put a somber reality check that this was not just another deployment, this was war and at that point, I began praying that I could just get through it, not because it was the holidays, but because I needed my husband and his borderline OCD behavior back in my life to drive me crazy a little longer. It was a harder road to walk than I thought, but we did get through it and are somehow here in a place that I can look back on it and remember how hard it was, but not really feel that pain... Like child birth! I think I learned a lot of lessons during that deployment that I can take with me to the next one. I just hope they are few and far between.
So, I guess that kind of sums up a little of what you will be reading from me. Please enjoy the blog as it is a direct reflection of my life. I am excited to start this blogging journey with all of you who read it!