Mark this!

I saw some huge paper clips in Target the other day and I had to have them! Why? In all honesty they screamed bookmark to me. So, that's what I did. I made myself a couple of book marks with just the paperclips and some ribbon. 

Just what I need for all the books I am reading! Best thing, cost a minor .60 cents! 

Man I love a great deal.

Hello again!

I know I have been absent recently. Getting settled in Texas has been more of a challenge than I expected. Hopefully everything will get in order soon. Meanwhile we are having fun catching up with cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and friends. Hope summer is treating you well so far!

Small Contribution.

All the woodworking going on in my house is done by The Squid, as everyone knows. But when we got an antique vanity seat I was asked to lend my (amateurish at best) skills in its revival. The wood hasn't been worked on yet, but with a few supplies and a remnant of upholstery fabric from Joanns, the seat has been re-upholstered and is ready to go!

On The Road Again.

It's official. We are moving overseas. I'm not going to tell you where yet, ONLY because I'm not sure the Navy is to be trusted yet. I'll believe it when we have the tickets to get on the plane. I will say I am REALLY excited and can't wait to get there and enjoy all that it has to offer!

Because we know we are going overseas and that The Squid will be deploying at some point, we are going to head back to Texas for short time we have remaining in our tour here. We want our families to have a fair amount of time with our squidlets before we head off into the wild blue yonder.  So, we are packing up our house, putting it in storage and taking only our most important possessions. With this in mind I put together a moving box for each of our kids. I think that it will be very helpful when we set off to our new home as well.
Our little squidlet princess has her dry-erase book with crayons, a dress up dress with accesories, her new tea set, her Jesse doll and her Honey doll. Her new princess skates round out the box, plus she is taking her blanket and unicorn pillow pet.
Our little sqidlet boy filled his box with all manner of transportation toys, with an emphasis on Thomas the Tank Engine. He also has a big wooden front end loader that we found at a thrift store that he is keen on taking. Topped with a tiny piano and his blanket and puppy pillow pet, I think his box is done. 
Both of them also have a backpack filled with coloring books, regular books, toys and electronics for our drive. I hope that having these familiar toys to play with, along with various other daddy related things, their own blankets and pillows will make our VERY LONG trip just a little bit easier. Do you have a box or bag for your munchkin(s)?
Do any of you go home during a deployment? How long do you last there?

MilSpouse Friday Fill-in #48

 Hello all you loyal followers, today is friday. YIPPEE! I know I was sporadic this week, sorry but, I have 800 things going on. Not an excuse, just an explanation. Hope everyones week was great and that your weekend will be better! So, head on over to Wife of a Sailor and enjoy todays MilSpouse Friday Fill-in.

Does your Significant Other read your blog?  Why is this a good or a bad thing? submitted by Mrs. Alana’s Miscellany  

He says that he does, but I think MikeKilo just gives him the gist every day. MikeKilo reads it though, which is nice. It isn't really a good or bad thing. He is pretty indifferent unless it's about him.lol. I don't really do it for him so, as unkind as it sounds, I'm pretty indifferent too. I'd like the support, but he's not my target audience.lol.

What is one item in your house that holds the most sentimental value and why? submitted by The Albrecht Squad

I have found alot of sentimental things since we have started the purge, and I have alot of different things from different times. Currently, my most sentimental thing, and I know it sounds nuts but, the other day I found my last tub of Burts Bees Belly Butter. Just the smell of it made me start crying. My mom got a tub for me when I was pregnant with our first and it was the only thing I would use with either of my kids. The smell is such a wonderful memory and since we are done having kids, it is just that much more sentimental. I know I'm wierd. Belly Butter.....Really?

When it comes to water fun in the summer do you prefer the beach, the pool, a lake, or the sprinklers? submitted by The Turvo Times

 Sprinklers. All the way, sprinklers. I know it's lame, but my kids hate the pool, I am not a huge fan of lakes, and the sand at the beach kills me. With sprinklers there is no sand, no deep end, no unknowns at the bottom, and they are pretty cheap. They are the water fun for me.

What is the one special thing that you do for yourself to get you through the first week of deployment/separation? submitted by A Creed and a Psalm

The first week of a deployment for us is the worst. I am very lienient with the kids. We eat when and what they want, there is more television than normal, and bedtime is a nightmare, so there is a fair amount of co-sleeping. But, after the first week, we have to go back to our normal schedule. I still have to be mom. 

What is your biggest guilty pleasure website? submitted by Christine’s Little Blog

As I am sure with everyone, I have a rotating list of guilty pleasure websites. At this particular moment, I am crushing on Anthropologie & Pinterest. I know that I am way, way behind the times, but I have just found these and LOVE THEM! 

Walk All Over Me!

Handmade Home by Amanda Blake Soule has been a plethora of inspiration for me lately. In her book she makes a bath mat from an old towel and some pretty material. We have a real need for bath mats in our home, but the cost is ridiculous. So I took her idea and ran with it. Here are the two that I came up with. Both made from old towels that we rarely use and some material I've had since we moved here. 

They are amazing! So pretty and perfect for in front of our door or in front of our shower.

Rockin' Roll Coasting.

Hello all! Hope everyone had a great 4th of July! We had a great BBQ with friends before watching the fireworks. It was a blast!

Back to business, I have a coaster post for you today. I have made coasters before, but with all the purging and such of my beloved fabric selection I found some fat quarters I just had to use so, I made coasters. Round coasters, but similar to the square ones.

They are stars on one side and guitars on the other. I sewed them together with one solid stitch starting in the middle and spiraled outward.  They are adorable and with old t-shirts for the middle I made 6 with half of each quarter. Grand total 1.00, with fabric left over. Sweet!

MilSpouse Friday Fill-in #47

Today is Friday! TGIF! With no work for the Squid we are out to enjoy our 4th of July weekend. I hope you all do the same. Before you head out, buzz on over to Wife of a Sailor and see what everyone else is doing for the 4th! Have a great weekend!

Have you (spouse) ever considered joining the military and what do you think of dual military couples? submitted by Project Army Wife 

I have thought about it many times, but at my age and with 2 small children it's not the best timing. I don't really have a problem with dual military couples. I know a few and it seems to work for them and that is what's important.

What is your idea of a perfect Sunday afternoon? submitted by A Few of My Favorite Things

My perfect Sunday afternoon would consist of watching my kids play outside while I have a drink, grill some burgers and swoon over my yard/estate sale loot. 

What do you usually do for the 4th of July holiday? submitted by Anchor’s Away

We usually have a bbq with our friends or family, watch some fireworks and go to bed. That's what we are doing this year too. We are wild!

 If they could make an Olympic event JUST for you that you know you'd medal in, what would it be? submitted by Pants are Confusing

An Olympic event just for me huh? I have no idea, sarcasm use? I am okay at a lot of things, but not an expert at anything. Although, I can run a household with a deployed husband with the best of them!

 

What have you been doing to get yourself bathing suit ready for the summer? submitted by Not Just an Army Wife
I have been trying to lose weight for quite sometime now. I have been using Weight Watchers, and it works so I'll be sticking with it. Hopefully I can get more exercise in and more weight will come off faster. This year though, not a bikini year. Maybe next year.