Shower Thinking

I have put the blog on the back burner for awhile now and thought I would dust the cob webs off. Life has been busy like normal and blogging just hasn't been high up on the priority list. Last week I got news that my guy is going to be moved to a different shop on base for work and a different shift.


When we first met just about 3 years ago I can't remember what shift he was on but quickly after meeting he got moved to mid shift (graveyard). It totally screwed up our time we got to spend together on the weekends and since that was the only time I got to see him I was not happy at all. In fact that schedule screwed him up so bad that he for whatever reason being half asleep said we should get married with an Elvis impersonator as our minister lol. Yeah so not funny!!!!! The lack of sleep really screwed with him and made doing anything with him not enjoyable. He was either horribly cranky or falling asleep while we were out.

Well when I got word last week that he was switching to mids I was mortified. I felt as though I just lost my partner for however long he is going to be stuck on this shift and just thought of all the reasons why mids was not a family oriented shift. But this morning while I was in the shower (where I do all my thinking for some odd reason lol) I realized mids is not all bad. Yeah I'll be doing my grocery shopping alone unless I opt to go after 10pm at night on a Friday or Saturday, Saturday and Sunday mornings will consist of me trying to keep Chloe and the pups quiet so my guy can sleep, and waking up to an empty bed in the mornings during the week which I do not like doing will happen again. But now I'm starting to think maybe the pros (that is if my guy gets on a good sleeping schedule) may outweigh the cons.

With this new shift he will be able to pick up Chloe from school (if he is able to go to sleep when he gets home) and that will save me around $140 a month since we won't need to use Safe key on a normal basis. He will be home for dinner, which means I will actually have a reason to cook a nice meal instead of just throwing this and that together for me and Chloe. Also with him being home for the first half of the night I can finally start running and not have to worry on who I can find to keep an eye on Chloe if she doesn't want to go.

Now I know I mentioned I don't like waking up to an empty bed but with my guy being at work when I get up between 5 and 6am I can turn on the lights and the T.V., listen to the news while I get ready and not have to worry about waking him up. During the week I think I maybe liking the idea of him on mids but I know the weekends are just going to suck. I'll deal with it because hey you do what you got to do and if Chloe starts taking 1 hour of dance and 1 hour of gym on Saturdays then I won't have to worry about the noise level in the house those mornings.

But overall I know I shouldn't complain because he could be overseas like some of my friend’s husbands and this issue is just a drop in the bucket compared to what they are going through. So I'm thinking looking at the pros of every situation the military throws our way is a better outlet then just letting myself drown in the cons.


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Big Girl School

I cannot believe that Chloe will be starting Big Girl School (aka Kindergarten) in a week!?!  Where in the world have the last 5 years gone.  When we first went into the school to pick up her Kindergarten packet it almost didn't feel real that in 3 months she would be an actual school age kid.  But over the last month of picking up school supplies and new school clothes it has started to become a reality.  I received her final Kindergarten packet in the mail last week that stated who her teacher was and all that fun stuff and it just hit me that she is no longer a baby but a little girl getting ready to set foot in a new world.  Well the new big girl school will be a new world to her anyways. 

I remember what it was like when I started at new schools with the excited but a bit nervous feeling.  And now I find myself having those feelings all over again for my child as she gets ready to start a new school for the first time. 

I'm looking forward to her first day but also kinda dreading it at the same time because I know I'm going to be a teary eyed mess with the camera and Chloe will probably be wondering what the hell is wrong with her mama :).


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Quarter of a Century!!!!!!!

On Saturday I turned the big ol 25!!  Growing up birthdays have always been a special day for me with doing fun things with my family and friends.  But they weren't lying when they say the older you get the more your birthday just feels like another day.  Saturday started out as any normal Saturday would.  The pups woke me up between 5am and 6 to be fed and after that I crawled my butt back into bed and snoozed until the munchkin woke me up around 7am to watch a movie.  After I got her squared away I went back to bed and sometime while I was sleeping between 7 and 8 my guy got up.  When I finally got up for the day it was time to feed the munchkin and get ready to go to gymnastics.  We hightailed it across town to pick up my little sister and get to gym.  After that we dropped the girls off at my moms and went to Best Buy to browse and then Mimi's Cafe for lunch.  We hung out at my moms the rest of the day until it was time to leave to go to dinner.  We met up with the rest of my family at the Cheesecake Factory.  The food was really yummy and the cheesecake was even better!  If you ever go there I suggest getting the fried macaroni balls.  They are so freakin good.  After that we headed home to get the munchkin ready for her 1st ice skating experience.

I forgot my camera and left my phone in the car so I had to use my guys camera phone to take the pics.  But for it being the munchkins first time she did pretty well.  My guy pushed her around with the walker for the 1st half so she could get a feel for how to balance and by the end of it she was pushing herself with no help on the walker.  I'm so excited to take her again :)

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Parents Job Description

I received this in an email and thought it was dead on!!!!!!

PARENT - Job Description

POSITION :

Mum, Mummy, Mama, Ma

Dad, Daddy, Dada, Pa, Pop

JOB DESCRIPTION :

Long term, team players needed, for challenging,

permanent work in an

often chaotic environment.

Candidates must possess excellent communication

and organizational skills and be willing to work

variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends

and frequent 24 hour shifts on call.

Some overnight travel required, including trips to

primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities!

Travel expenses not reimbursed.

Extensive courier duties also required.

RESPONSIBILITIES :

The rest of your life.

Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily,

until someone needs £5.

Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly.

Also, must possess the physical stamina of a

pack mule

and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat

in case, this time, the screams from

the backyard are not someone just crying wolf.

Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges,

such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets

and stuck zippers.

Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and

coordinate production of multiple homework projects.

Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings

for clients of all ages and mental outlooks.

Must be a willing to be indispensable one minute,

an embarrassment the next.

Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a

half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices.

Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst.

Must assume final, complete accountability for

the quality of the end product.

Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and

janitorial work throughout the facility.

POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION :

None.

Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills,

so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE :

None required unfortunately.

On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.

WAGES AND COMPENSATION :

Get this! You pay them!

Offering frequent raises and bonuses.

A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because

of the assumption that college will help them

become financially independent.

When you die, you give them whatever is left.

The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that

you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.

BENEFITS :

While no health or dental insurance, no pension,

no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and

no stock options are offered;

this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth, unconditional love,

and free hugs and kisses for life if you play your cards right.

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1st half of July 2010

So I know I wanted a break for awhile from everything we had going on the last month but atlas that was a lie.  I'm the type of person who likes to constantly be doing something or going somewhere.  I don't know how to just stay still and be.  I've now admitted to myself thats where Chloe gets it from and I can't get to peeved at her for it lol. 

We have had a lot of stuff going on so far this month and of course I didn't have my camera, but I was able to snap some shots on my phone on some of the stuff.

Can you tell what this is?  (Horrible picture quality lol)

Well Bill and I were home on the Saturday night before 7/4 itching to get out and do something while the munchkin was at her dads house.  I should say I was itching to get out lol.  After browsing the Vegas.com site I found out that the Fiesta has Ice Skating!  I had thought all the ice rinks on the north side of town had been shut down but I was happy to be wrong lol.  We opted to go since it had been years since either of us had been and $4.00 for rental and skate time sounded like a good deal to me.  And we found out we both can still ice skate, which is good because we are planning on taking Chloe and seeing if she likes it.

The next day we went over to my moms for some swim time, bbq and fireworks.  I of course forgot my camera again and didn't think to take pics with my phone.  I'll have to steel the pics from this night off my moms camera at a later date.

I of course have to throw in a hair pic since I'm so obsessed with it these days lol.  This is from this past Saturday while I was getting ready to go out to my early bday dinner with my guy to The Melting Pot.  I'm falling inlove with my curls finally and it only took 25 years to do so lol. 

So we were originally going to go on the night of my bday but my guy decided we should go that night and leave my bday night to do something with my family.  Got to love him for being so considerate :).  Now if you have never been to The Melting Pot I suggest you get up, grab your honey (or wait till they get back if they are "out and about" ;)) and head on down there (sans kiddos).  Its so yummy and so romantic.

You can either sit at a table or private booth. We opted for the private booth. Its a bit dark in there but with the little candle on the table makes it pretty romantic.

We first started out with our cheese appetizer which comes with different types of bread, veggies and apples for dipping.  You can fill up just on this its so good lol.

Now this picture isn't doing much justice but this had to be one of the best ceasar salads I have ever had.  They had these glazed nuts in it that were just so scrumpicious.

Next came the Entrees where you choose your cooking style and cook your meats and fish in a flavorful stock.  If you have a timer app on your phone it will come in very handy lol.

After all that came dessert.  This pic is after we munched on some of it.  There was a candle in the cheese cake and some cake pieces that are missing from this pic.  We went with the Disaronno Amaretto chocolate served flambee style which came with the different dippers you see above.  It was like heaven in your mouth :). 

This month so far has been alittle busy but more of a relaxed fun busy.  I can't wait to see what the rest of the month has instore for us :). 

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Busy Bee

This last week has been a hell of a week.  We have been running around none stop with errands, events and family visiting that describing the last 7 days as hectic doesn't even begin to describe the last week.  Saturday started off with Chloe going to gymnastics and then a 3 stop hunt for a smoothie.  The third store was finally the winner but with a lovely 30 minute wait.  After we got our smoothies we headed home to get ready for Chloe's Pre K Graduation.  I'll let the pictures do the talking :).

If you can't tell Chloe is the 4th kid from the right.

Singing their class song.

Thats a proud grandma :)

Receiving her pseudo diploma.

A proud papa!

A proud Gammie!

A proud Nana!

A proud Bill and Mama!

When her graduation was over Chloe took off with her Grammie to go spend some time with her daddy and his family while Bill, Nana and myself took off to my little sister's gymnastic and tap recital.  Here is a couple pics from after the recital.

Lindsey in her gymnastic costume.  Chloe wants to be just like her Auntie!

Lindsey with Mom and Gary (her dad)

A proud Nana again :).

After the performance we went to Olive Garden for dinner.  Yum!!!  Then we headed home.  Rosco had a 7:30 am appointment Sunday to get neutured.

This is Rosco before we took his manly parts away lol.

We then proceeded to spend the rest of the day cleaning up the house until it was time to pick up Rosco.  After a 3 hour  nap and a quick shower 10pm rolled around and it was time to head to the airport to pick up Bill's daddy and stepmom.  We then spent Monday and Tuesday eating out on the strip, catching a show and hanging by the pool at The Wynn.

"But momma I want to go back in the pool!!"    She just can't get enough of the water lol.

Bill ran around with his parents while I was at work on Weds., Thurs. and Friday.  Tonight we are having a BBQ at the house before his parents take off to the airport.  While this week has been lots of fun, I'm so ready for a chill weekend with nothing to do.  We will be spending 4th of July at my moms chillin in her pool and lighting fireworks.  Hope your 4th is relaxed as I hope mine to be lol. 

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Hair update!!!!!!

So I have successfully been sulfate and silicone free for just about 2 months.  My hair feels so much healthier now.  Right before I jumped on the curly bandwagon and before my guy got home I had highlights put in.  I think the girl let them sit in my hair alittle too long because I've noticed the strands that were highlighted are so much drier than the rest of my hair.  Also they don't hold my curls/waves as well as the rest of my hair.  I've learned my hair is very porous from being dyed and highlighted over the years and that it loves it some protein (pretty common for fine haired curlies).  After I use a heavy duty protein treatment or my Aubrey Organics GPB Conditioner (love love love Aubrey Organics and can be found at Wholefoods!) my curls and waves are so springy and wavey. 

Over the last month I have noticed a ton of curlies on naturallycurly.com have been using flaxseed gel on their hair and getting really awesome results.  I decided to try my hand at making some and it came out pretty good.  This stuff only lasts about a week in the fridge and can be a bit of a pain to put in if its all stringy and stuck together.  It has the nickname of "booger gel" because of its snot like texture lol.  But boy does it pump up the shine and its all natural. 

Since going CG I haven't touched my flat iron or curling iron this whole time and have really limited my self to diffusing with the blow dryer.  Over the last few weeks I haven't diffused at all.  I have been PLOPPING and airdrying (while at home) and then using the a/c vents in my car to dry while on the way to drop Chloe off at pre-k and get to work.

 I never would have thought when I was younger I would actually like my hair curly/wavy.  But I actually do now.  I can just about do anything with my hair (style wise) and I'm just now beginning to appreciate it.  I'm in the process of trying to find a non expensive cleanser and conditioner for Chloe's hair.  I've noticed in my many ventures to Wholefoods over the last month that there are some children's hair products but nothing that I have felt the urge to purchase.  There is stuff online I can order too but it is just so expensive and money is tight right now.  I may just decide to use my stuff on her but I'm still up in the air on it. 

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A little this and a little that!!!

Nothing too exciting has been going on in our neck of the woods these days.  Chloe celebrated her 5th birthday a couple weeks ago.  I can't believe she is 5 already.  Where has the time gone?  We picked up a decent size 3 ft by 10 ft above ground pool for Chloe which came in pretty handy during her birthday party and all the kiddos that were in attendance. 

Chloe has also been enrolled her in gymnastics again.  She started going to gym for an hour on saturdays when she was 3 and at the beginning it was good but then she started not wanting to go every saturday and for me felt like a waste of money when she didn't want to go.  So we decidec to take a break for a while which turned into a 2 year break lol.  Well over the past couple of months she has been begging me for her to start gym again.  Her Auntie (my little sis) is an avid gymnast and tap dancer and Chloe has had to go to a few of her practices with my mom and that lite the flame of her wanting to attend gym again.  So now I have a standing date with gym on Saturday mornings lol. 

I have also kept with my sulfate and silicone free regime with my hair which I am so proud of.  My hair was pretty damaged before I started so it will take a while to get my hair back to the natural healthiness from when I was younger but I'm determined to follow thru.  I haven't used a brush in my hair in a month (but I do use a comb in the shower to detangle so don't think I've gone crazy lol) and have kept to only low pooing once to twice a week and condishoner washing inbetween.  My hair is feeling so much healthier and stronger than when I first started.  I have noticed my wurls (curls and waves) are starting to enhance which is awesome.  I also figured out over the last week that my hair needs all the protein it can get right now.  It makes my curls bouncier and so soft.  I have fallen inlove with Whole Foods since they have some awesome hair care products there that aren't too expensive.  My most recent purchase was the Aubrey Organics GPB Conditioner.  Its packed full of protein and moisture that my hair just eats right up.  There are so many products there that I want to try out but alas I mush be patient and use up what I have already first.  My guy thinks I'm crazy for putting in all this work on my hair but I know once I get my hair to its full potential he will understand. 

As of yet we don't have anything planned for the summer.  I know we will throw in a trip to Cali sometime this summer for the munchkin but unsure of when yet (because finding someone to take care of 4 dogs can be a bit of a pain in the rear!!!).  But right now its looking like a lazy go with the flow summer which sometimes can be better than chaotic running around trying to get a laundry list of stuff done.  I'm looking forward to laying around by the pool and spending time with my 2 fav people and 4 fav dogs :).








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Everyone needs alittle Sunshine!!!!!!

So I have been awarded my very 1st award by Now an Air Force Wife!  How freaking exciting is that.  I wasn't even expecting to ever get an award.   Now I'm supposed to pick 12 blogs to pass it on too.  Well I follow alot so that shouldn't be too hard lol.  So here it goes:

1. 3 Bedroom Bungalow
2. A Yummy Mummy On A Pink Park Bench
3. SJSFALTER+
4. That [Officer's] Wife
5. Random Rants of an Army Wife
6. Mrs. G.I Joe
7.Mr. and Mrs. Top Gun
8. Married to the Military
9. Day In The Life of His Military Wife
10. The Undomestic Army Wife
11. New Girl On Post
12. Homefront 7



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Au Naturale?

So after 25 years of ironing, coloring and highlighting my hair I'm going back to the basics.  No more coloring, sulfates, silicones and whatever damaging ingredients I've used over the years will be touching my hair for awhile.  I'm following the Curly Girl Method or also knowns as becoming a CG and going "No-Poo"! 

"Do you suffer from curly hair that's dry, damaged, frizzy, or uncontrollable?"

Yes I sure do!

" Are you open to trying something new?"

Yes I sure am!

"The curly girl method (also referred to as "no-poo") is based off the book "Curly Girl" by Lorraine Massey. The nickname "no-poo" alludes to not using a sulfate shampoo, because of sulfates' power to strip the hair of its natural oils. Once you take away the sulfates your hair can retain its natural moisture. Like many beauty regimens, the results vary from person to person, but this one just might work for you. So, say good-bye to the frizz and split ends and hello to soft, healthy curls!"

Yes Please!!!

I ran across this Blog and then this one too and saw the pictures of their hair and thought "with some TLC my hair can look like that!"  I have been researching here and here and determined that I fall somewhere between a 2A and 2B.  I checked out alot of other curly girlies sigs (where they post their hair types and products they use) that are the same types as me and made a list of some of the products they use that I should try out.  I then went out and found them.  Some of them are cheap and at Walmart or any other regular store so that made my day.  Others I had to order and/or were a bit more pricey.  But anything I get from WholeFoods can be returned if I decide in a reasonable amount of time that I don't like it and its just not working for my hair. 

Up until today I have been cleansing and rinsing out with Suave Naturals Coconut Conditioner and also using a dab of it as my leavin and using Herbal Essence Totally Twisted Gel.  Over the weekend I had some ok curls going on given I'm a newbie and just starting out.  I also haven't touched any shampoos since my last sulfate shampoo Friday night.  I haven't really had too much build up which is really surprising.  Before I could normally only go 2 days before I had to wash my hair because of the oil build up on my scalp.  But for some reason cutting out all the bad stuff I'm producing less oil and not needing to cleanse my scalp as much.  I just got in some products from Devacurl that I'm excited to try out tonight or tomorrow morning.  I ordered
the Lowpoo, One Condition and Mister Right spray.  I also picked up some Kinky Curly Curling Custard from WholeFoods and have a deep condition treatment and a curl potion from Jessicurl coming in a couple days. 

This is my hair today.  I didn't put enough product in it and I kept messing with the curls so it frizzed out a bit.  Plus it doesn't help that its windy today either.

But I'm hoping with some TLC and no heat styling I can get it to this or somewhat similar.

And ofcourse once I figure out my hair and get it back into shape I will then work on enhancing Chloe's curls because she has crazy wavy hair just like her momma!!!

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Homecoming!!

So the Air Force finally decided to release my guy from the middle of nowhere they shipped him off to for a week and send him home.   He flew in Thursday morning and we got to spend the whole day together.  I was in complete heaven even though he did take like a 5 hour nap that day lol.  But I got a nap in to so it was all good.  Friday night after my boss was so nice to let me off work early, he took Chloe and I to dinner at our favorite steakhouse The Outback.  Well that was the start and the end of our Homecoming weekend lol.  Chloe started upchucking early Saturday morning and just was not feeling good the rest of the day.  She even had a upchuck episode in the car after I thought she was feeling better.  Guess I thought wrong.  She then proceeded to sleep the rest of the day and night.  Then later that night my guy starts in with the upchucking and then proceeds to sleep all day Sunday trying to recover.  Some how I managed to steer clear of the nastiness that infiltrated our house and even got some shopping done.  But so much for a fun filled Homecoming weekend.  Oh well there is always next time I guess lol.  Oh yeah and I still have that ice cream cake in the freezer that hasn't been touched yet.  Good thing I went with ice cream instead of a regular cake that would have been on its way out tonight lol.




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I did it when I knew I shouldn't have.......

My guy gave me a date of his return and I got my hopes up, rearranged schedules and went and got a cake.  Well yeah needless to say I'm a newbie at this and even though I knew I shouldn't of gotten my hopes up, I did it anyways.  The date has changed and I'm back to a shorter version of the original time frame hopefully.  I'm here trying to think of a easy way to break it to Chloe that she won't get to see him when we thought she would.  Yeah she is only almost 5 and it hopefully won't phase her but I know how much she was looking forward to seeing him.  I knew this getting involved with him that it could and probably would happen, but boy does it suck.  Well atleast its a good thing I got a ice cream cake and  I can just leave it in the freezer till they decide to actually ship him home!

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Lets Get Ready to Rumble

So my guy and I had a fight lastnight.  While I was at my friends beauty school getting my hair done none the less!  It was all through email and before I went to bed lastnight thought it was over and we were okay.  I knew I would  have 2 nasty emails waiting for me at work this morning that he told me about lastnight which is what started the fight in the first place.  Well I pretty much already knew what they were going to say but instead of just deleting them straight away I decided to ready them.  Well then I got pissed again and sent him a couple nasty emails.  I feel bad now.  I know we will work it out and everything will be all hunky dory again but I'm getting a bit worried about homecoming now. 

I have envisioned homecoming being this joyous event of me picking him up at the airport and going straight home to spend some quality time together before the responsibilities of the real world interrupt.  And I'm sure the first day will be like that.  But now I'm worried about after that. 

I'm worried that we won't be able to get back into pre deployment grove and that we will constantly fight and bicker with eachother.  I'm worried that even though he wasn't around any casualties that he still will come back and have some issues to workout from being gone.  I'm worried he won't like how I'm doing things and constantly critize that will drive me to packing up all my stuff, chloe, splitting up the pups and leaving.  I can handle criticism fairly well but if I'm criticized about anything and everything I do that will put me over the edge.

I'm probably just over analyzing it all.  Which I'm really good at lol.  And probably because he has been working on his shift for an hour now and I haven't received my "Good Morning" email from him :(.

But here is my new "Do" for your viewing pleasure :)

There are some subtle highlights in it.  There was a issue with some of the highlights processing so you can't really see unless your right up in it lol.
  




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