Yo Ho! Yo Ho!

Hey y'all,

    Today is gonna be a short post. I went and spent the day on the ship with the husband and now know how it feels to be thrown around all day. Needless to say, I am sore, and very tired.

    What is something that you have done that you are beyond happy to experience? 

-Haley

Look! I Made a Thing!

Hey y'all,

    As y'all know, I have been super crafty lately. So I made some tie-dye slip on shoes that are absolutely perfect for summer and they kinda remind me of the Big Stick cherry pineapple popsicles that you used to get as kids. Please tell me someone else has had those! (Man, I really want them now)

    Here is all that I used for these awesome shoes:

Supplies:

White slip on shoes

Tie-Dye kit

Water Proofing Spray
Tape

Directions:

Prepare your tie-dye colors as directed on the package. Put on those ever so wonderful gloves, and start dying away! (I did it over my stainless steel kitchen sink for obvious reasons)

Next, you have to let them sit forever, and then once their time is up, rinse them off till the water runs clear.

Set them out to dry for 24 hours, and tape up the white edge of the sole. This will protect the white rubber from the waterproofing spray that will discolor it if it isn't covered. Once taped and protected and dry, remove tape and ta da!

In Preparation

Hey y'all!

    I don't know what is going around the island... But it is something to be reckoned with. Nearly everyone on the island has either been sick, is sick, or starting to get sick. I guess you can say that being on an island, you tend to get sick no matter what you do. It's terrible. 

    Anyway, I have been starting the PCS (Permanent Change of Station) move to South Carolina this summer. Trent will be attending the Nuke School there. Anyone in or around the area? I wanna make friends! But be prepared for many tips, tricks, and ideas at the end of these posts. :)

    My first moving tip: Downsize. Yes. The capital D in the word is required. For example, I haven't updated my wardrobe since high school, and let's face it, I am not the size 6 that I was in High School... and I now realize that the weight I was at was anything but healthy, so goodbye nightmare pants. In all seriousness though, downsize. I have 4 boxes that are collecting dust because I haven't bothered to open them. It saves you on time and frustration when you are unpacking.

-Haley

The Magic in Nature

Hey y'all,

    Today's post is going to be me sharing a personal story about my own health and what I plan to do to get control over my life!

    So, to start out, I will give a bit of a back story. Back when I lived in San Diego I dealt with terrible nausea. Like, not eating, questioning if I should move or go anywhere, and generally a super big grumpy pants wearing fool. I finally went to my doctor after a friend asked if I was pregnant.

    Needless to say, I wasn't preggers. What I actually had was a stomach ulcer caused by the H. pylori bacteria. (80% of the population actually has it in their gut as well) Doctors have no idea how it gets introduced, and for most people, goes unnoticed and life is grand. But for that small percentage that have the bacteria, you end up with stomach ulcers. 

    So, my doctor decided to throw me on a triple therapy pill combination to help with it. Unbeknownst to me (or my doctor apparently... That's a separate rant that I won't get into now) the triple therapy pill contained the following:

This is actually the 

• Amoxicillan
• Clarithromycin
• Lansoprazole

    Doesn't sound too bad, right? Well, for most, it wouldn't but for me, I am actually allergic to Clarithromycin. I broke out in severe hives. I called the emergency line for my doctor's office and was told to take a shower and "if I started to have difficulty breathing to call 911". I was by myself, Trent had duty, didn't have a car, and it was 11:30 at night. You don't tell that to someone who is freaking out. Ever.

    Anyway, so I didn't sleep that night, and went to my doctor's office first thing in the morning. I nearly blew a gasket when they tried to tell me it was the amoxicillan. I have taken amoxicillan multiple times in previous years and I knew exactly what caused the reaction. I had to force my doctor to open my file where I could point out that I was allergic to Clarithromycin. He switched my meds in a split second and that was that. I got over the stomach ulcer and all was well with the world. 

    Now, I have a higher risk of having another ulcer form, so I need to be careful about home much anti-inflammatory medication I take... Which, thanks to my bad joints and chronic headaches, is definitely more than I like. So for the last year I have been trying every other natural remedy I could find. If my joints hurt I pretty much sat on my butt so I didn't have to take the medicine. (Stomach ulcer diet is something I never want to relive)

    Then I met a wonderful lady through Trent's ship and she introduced me to essential oils. She gave me a sample of peppermint and lavender to try and see how I liked it. I tried the peppermint for my headaches. How? When a headache came on, I took 1 drop and rubbed it into my temples in a circular motion. 2 minutes later, no more headache. It also continued to work every time a headache came on till I ran out. The lavender worked miracles for Trent. He has a nasty habit of getting really caught up in his head about everything that is going on and then can't sleep. All because his head is being the supercomputer that it is. I took one drop and rubbed it on his chest so he could smell the lavender and he was out in no time at all.

    There is definitely something about the oils that work, and I can't wait to see where this road leads me. Do you use oils? If so, where do you get your oils and what do you use?

-Haley

Sleepy Lady

Hey y'all!

    So I have discovered the mobile app for Blogger! It's pretty nice to not have to post using a computer or laptop for days like today where the sun isn't even up and I already am dreading the errands I have to do.

    Why am I dreading? Because I am absolutely exhausted. Didn't sleep well the night before last and last night I was awake every few hours. Hopefully that sleepy torture ends soon.

    I finally got the tires in for our car, Lady, today! So I don't have to worry about the tires falling apart on me anymore! I am so happy about that! Then after that, I am going to be taking dinner to Trent tonight cause he has Duty. What should I bring him? Panda? Taco Bell? McD's? Jack in the box? Lol.

    I have also been doing my research into essential oils. I am tempted to go and get some lavender oil for tonight. I just don't think I can go another night with little to no sleep. Do you use essential oils? How do you like it? Comment below and let me know! :)

-Haley

Busy Little Bee

Hey y'all!

    Have you ever had one of those days where you just have so much to do and you feel like you don't have nearly enough time to finish it? Totes how I'm feeling today. Had to get new tires for the car, (which is always "fun"), had to drop stuff off at the post office, got to run to the store to get hangers because our dressers are broken and I actually want to use our walk in closet....

    And that was just this morning. 

    What do you do to help you relax after a long day? I am so going to indulge and take a nice bubble bath tonight. :D 

-Haley

Sleepy Sunday

Hey y'all!

    Sorry for the late post, but Trent and I have been napping on and off all day. It has been wonderful. What are some things you do when you have a lazy Sunday? We watch Mythbusters and recline on the couch.

    I know this is super late in the day, and I promise to make up for it tomorrow!

-Haley

Sentimental Saturday

Hey y'all,

    Today's prompt is "My Dream Wedding" Well, I already am happily married. So I will take their prompt and tell the story of my wedding! Muahahaha!

    Trent and I got married May 21, 2013 at 5:00 pm in Chandler, Arizona. We planned our wedding in 9 months and I started with a crazy idea, and ended up going a more simplistic route. He wore his choker whites, and I found my dress at Brilliant Bridal at an amazing discount. 

    Our colors were Navy Blue, Gold, and Bright White. Very elegant, and simple, which fit my personality pretty well. My bridesmaids wore Navy Blue dresses and gold jewelry. His Groomsmen wore dashing suits. Mini Groomsmen copied their bigs, and my flowergirls wore simple dresses. 

    Now time for the story, the night before the wedding we had the rehearsal and it went smoothly. The entire family got together and we ate a fabulous dinner cooked by my uncles. At midnight, Trent got kicked out for tradition. After that, I took my tipsy self upstairs to bed. Cause I was tired. 

    My Mommy came and woke me up the next morning to get my hair done, and the entire way there, my Mommy and Auntie kept asking if I was nervous. My response?

"I'm hungry. Can I get a burger?" 

    The looks on their faces were hilarious. But I did get my burger. We got our hair done and then went home where the boys were put to work with getting everything to the venue. I got to play Mission Impossible and get the dress out of the house without my Daddy seeing it. (YESSS!) I then proceeded to get to the venue and start getting my makeup done. I had my Mommy do my makeup because she had always done my makeup for every big event in my life. 

    After that, I put my dress on. In the words of my Great Grandmother: " Where have you been hiding those curves" I always wore baggy comfy clothes. So something like my dress was a culture shock.

    My Daddy walked me down the aisle and I kissed my husband at the end of it all. :) It was such a magical day and I would not have changed anything at all. 

    What was even more amazing, was the fact that below, you will see my wedding cake. Which was done by my Mama (Gramma)! It was a wonderful night and I married my best friend. :)

-Haley

Just Keep Swimming

Hey y'all!

    So I have established something that I never thought possible. Fish Stink. Like, you think when you have a fish that you just change the water and call it a day? Nope. These stinkers smell. Terribly. Needless to say, I cleaned Stanley's tank completely and I can't even begin to describe the smell. (I did a complete clean, like scrubbed his hide aways and his fake plants. and holy moly. Gross.

    Do you have any pets? What is one thing they do that you can't stand? How about something they do that you love? Stanley swims up to me whenever I walk by his tank. He'll also follow me around the kitchen as I cook. He makes my heart happy.

-Haley

Come Little Children, Let Me Tell You A Tale

Hey y'all,

    Finally feeling better. Thank goodness. Went grocery shopping and even did my hair and makeup. :) I love that feeling you get when you start to feel like yourself again. It's almost as great as opening your favorite childhood book.

    Speaking of which, my favorite book when I was little was this purple book about moths, butterflies, and caterpillars. (Yes, I was a super weird kid) I would carry it with me wherever I went and would have anyone that was willing read it to me. I just loved seeing all the pretty butterflies in there and see how they went from creepy caterpillars to beautiful butterflies and moths. I think my Grampa alone read it THOUSANDS of times. 

    What is one of your favorite childhood books? Do your kids have favorites? If so, what book is the latest fad?

-Haley

Truth Is...

Hey y'all,

    Still pretty sick... Looks like I caught whatever was going around Trent's ship. Which, by the way, is totally not fun. So, this post is going to be pretty whiney because I don't feel good, I'm alone, and because it's my party, I'll cry if I want to. 

    Truth is, I miss home. I miss the way the desert made me feel, I miss my family being so close... I miss being able to know where I am and what to do. I really dislike this muggy damp place that doesn't have any type of season other than hot, humid, and sunny. The traffic is terrible, their BBQ is way too sweet, and I swear, if I hear "aloha", "mahalo", "bruddah", or "sistah" ever again... I'm pulling all of my hair out.

    Truth is, I am missing my husband. I miss how he frets over me when I don't feel good... Yes, I am like a sick cat when I don't feel good... But I do appreciate human interaction. Be it online, by phone, or in person. 

    Truth is, I miss having my baby girl with me (my parent's boxer. Raised her from a puppy). She always knew when I wasn't feeling good and loved to snuggle me till I felt better. 

    Okay... I am done making myself sad and depressed. What is something that you miss from wherever you call home?

-Haley

Just a Spoonful of Sugar

Hey y'all,

    Today's post is going to be pretty short, and I apologize for that right now. Woke up at a ridiculous hour because my face was going to implode and my entire body was feverish and hurt like you couldn't believe. 

    So, I have been resting and drinking water and eating toast and chicken broth. What are some things that you do to feel better when you don't feel so hot?

    Also, I would just like to put out there, I am a firm believer in "Loose Lips Sink Ships" phrase. Don't go threatening when my husband comes home to me because you want to complain. Ugh.

    Well, that's all for now. I promise to still keep posting, but they may be a smidge on the short side of things till I have my energy levels up and running. 

-Haley

The Sound of Music

Hey y'all,

    So, it's President's Day! It's also my Papa's Birthday! So, Happy Birthday Papa! Did you know that President's Day was originally was to honor George Washington and Abraham Lincoln's birthday? But now, it's to celebrate the lives of our Presidents.

    But I am cleaning my house and getting organized. We had some of our furniture break on the move out here, and I am tired of having to fight my dresser to get to my clothes. So I broke down the dresser and bought stock in clothes hangers. The look on the cashiers face was priceless. Haha.

    While I clean, I love listening to music. It makes it relatively fun and seems to go by a lot faster when I am dancing and singing along. Trent loves it. He says it brings out his inner child. My response to that? Good. Means our life together shall be glorious and fun! 

    Anyway, I have a very eclectic taste in music. I think I can boil it down to the beat. If there is a good beat, I don't care what genre it is Actually, I dislike screamo and most death metal... But if there is a good beat and doesn't fall into those categories, I am a happy camper. 

    What is your favorite genre? band? song? Let me know in the comments!

-Haley

The Drums of War

Hey y'all!

    So, today is going to be a movie review. Trent and I just recently watched the movie Fury.

    My first reaction, was to roll my eyes and sigh... I usually abhor war movies. For pretty obvious reasons too, I might add! It started much like every other war movie. Explosions, foreign languages, and in that monochromatic color scheme of wartime. Everything seemed to be painted in the same shade of gray and the only thing that made that shade of gray different was the clothing underneath it, or the skin tone of the person wearing it. 

    There were absolutely no subtitles... We had to put them on ourselves, (which, ended up blocking a lot of the movie, so we went without... Turns out, Trent's High School German class stuck with him... I'll get to that later) but it wasn't angry German all the time. They seemed to speak German in every emotion that war tends to hand out. When they were angry, or scared, their German was loud and sharp. Much like the stereotype portrays. When they were dealing with hostages or liberating a town or talking to the townspeople, their tone was soft and questioning. Of course they threw in the perverse soldier... But even his German wasn't the stereotype. It was a nice change.

    Anyway, the movie follows a soldier named Norman's journey through Germany as the US is pushing forward to try to win the war. Let me tell you, it's gruesome. Very gruesome. There were parts I had a very hard time watching and brought forth tears.

    However, there is a scene when they have liberated a city of it's SS personnel, when the Sergeant is speaking German, and I was frustrated at this point. Well below is the conversation between Trent and myself:

TV: German language that I am clueless to understand.
Me: OMG. What did he say?! -frustrated sigh-
Trent: He said (Insert translation of German paragraph here)
Me: O.O I didn't know you spoke German that well!
Trent: I only catch bits and pieces... But I get the summation of what they are saying.
Me: What did that guy say?

    Needless to say, my husband amazes me every single day. Fury is good. I would give it 3.5 stars. It's slow going, and super brutal. But it does know how to tug on those heart strings.

    What is a movie that you have seen? Have you ever discovered a hidden talent of your spouse? Comment below!

-Haley

Cupid Cupid, Stop Picking On Me

Hey y'all!

    Happy Valentines Day! Excuse me while I go and curl up in a blanket and drown my sorrows in Ben and Jerry's while avoiding the general populace... Okay, I lied... I am actually going to brave the world and go hang out with some of the other wives from Trent's ship so that way we aren't alone today. :) It will be glorious! 

    I will also fulfill all of the stereotypes of a girl who doesn't have a date for Valentine's Day, and binge on good food and movies... And friends. Cause who wants to be alone on Valentine's Day?

    What did you do today? Any surprises? Comment below to let me know! :)

-Haley

All Dolled Up

Hey y'all! 

    So, today I am going to talk about what I have in my makeup bag. I will post the photos of the makeup that I use, and will mention some of the tools I use (Like, beauty blender, eyelash curler, and eye shadow brush.) So here we go!

    So, I start out by putting on this fantastic moisturizer made by Lush. It gives my face a matte feel and helps my makeup to stick to my face. I love it because it doesn't have that oily feel nor does it feel heavy.

    Then, I take this e.l.f. flawless finish foundation and a beauty blender and blot onto the face, it hides my pores, redness, and any acne bumps that have made it to my face.

    Next, I use this cheap concealer. I am not a fan of it, but bought it so I need to use it up. You definitely have to layer it so that it covers anything. 

After I am happy with the concealer, I set my makeup with e.l.f. High Definition Powder. This powder is very fine, and gets everywhere if you aren't careful... But it does a wonderful job setting my foundation and concealer, and I don't have any wrinkles or creases in my foundation by the end of the day.

    After I have set it, I contour my face. I have a rectangular-oval shaped face, and when I contour, it takes some of that roundness away. This stuff is wonderful. It doesn't go on super dark, so you can tweak the area you are contouring till you are happy with it.

    I use the highlighter in the Smashbox contour kit because it really brightens my under eye area. I love highlighting that area. It's my calling in life.

    Then, I begin working on my eyes. Depending on my outfit for the day, I use my BH Cosmetics 88 color matte palette. The colors are wonderful and last all day.

    Once I have my eyes perfectly shadowed, I use my Benefit Push Up Eyeliner. It's a gel eyeliner and kind of tricky to put on at first, but once you get the hang of it, you can do pretty much anything with it.

    Then comes the best mascara I have ever come across. The Better Than Sex mascara by Too Faced. I love this stuff. It volumizes with clumping, curls, and lengthens my eyelashes. No need for false eyelashes at all!

    After my eyes are finished, I put on some of my blush with a super soft blush brush. Coralista doesn't add a whole lot of color, but does add a bit of shimmer to the cheeks. Whatever is left on the brush I fluff all over my face... It does have a pretty floral smell to it, but I don't mind it.

    This is my go to lip color. I love it. It's not crazy dark, nor is it crazy bright. It's Nyx Matte Lipstick in the color Merlot.

    What kind of makeup do you use? I want a concealer that can hide my under eye circles.... any tips?

-Haley

Planning for the Future

Hey y'all!

    So a while back. I was on the hunt for the perfect planner. Something that I could meal plan and workout plan and all that great stuff. But everything I was finding was purely academic. It's just a simple black leather, snap close binder. And on the inside, it has monthly views for my daily workouts, meal planning, a full month view so I can see what needs to get done when, and a weekly view so I can check items off. It also has an address book and a notepad in the back for grocery lists.

    I really love this planner cause it seems to cover everything. And I can change it out too! So I don't have to buy another planner outside ever again. 

    Do you have a planner? What do you use it for and how does it help you in your day to day life? 

    So far, my planner has helped me get things done that need to get done. Like, tomorrow I have to go get new tires. (yay...) It gives me a much more organized way of viewing things. :)

    Soon, I will have to put together my moving checklist though, so Lord knows I will be filling this planner up even more! What are some tips and tricks that you do to prepare for a move?

-Haley

No Regrets... Kinda

Hey y'all,

    So today, the challenge has bestowed the prompt of "my last meal". Morbid... But a pretty good prompt. I guess. If I could choose what my last meal would be on this Earth, be it because I am going to die, or the Apocalypse is going to happen, or zombies are breaking down my door, I know exactly what I would want my last meal to be.

    It would be my Mommy's Stringy Beef with Salad and French Bread with all my family around me. Talking, laughing, being together. No bad feelings. I wouldn't want to think of tomorrow because that is something my parents taught me. Live in the now. Enjoy the little things like the way the sun feels on your skin. The way the Earth seems to clear up after it rains. 

    To sit and type what you would have for your last meal really brings you down to the Earth and makes you re-evaluate some decisions you make in life. Luckily, there are very few things I regret in life. I wouldn't change anything that happened in my life besides maybe sitting and talking with my great-grandmother some more, and learning to forgive certain family members before they were gone. 

    Hold the ones you love close to your heart. You never know when things will change.

    Okay, no more sad or depressing things. I finally made some more Laundry soap (My half batch lasted from September of 2013 - February 8th, 2015) on Monday, and my house still smells delicious. :) I have the recipe on my DIY page! Check it out here!

    Love you all!

-Haley

In the Shadow of the Mountain

Hey y'all,

    For the 10th day of this challenge, it told me to take a picture of something green. And, because I am who I am, I am taking it a step further. I am taking a picture of something green and something that meant the world to me.

    You see, Trent and I never had a honeymoon. We got engaged and 9 months later were married so that I could move with him. Add to it the fact that we have moved 2 times in a year and a half of marriage, and we really don't have the time or the funds to go and do something fun and crazy. 

    Well, during Trent's holiday leave, he surprised me and signed us up for a tour of the island. We went all the way around and saw some absolutely beautiful landscapes and scenery. 

    The picture above was taken at a macadamia nut farm. It was in the shadow of that huge mountain, and everything was so green. There were even wild roosters and hens walking around. They had the best macadamia nuts I have ever had. The locals there were beyond friendly and I was completely and totally content and happy. We did this trip on New Years Eve, and it was so wonderful.

    What is one thing that you and your spouse have done that just left you feeling loved and content?

-Haley

Happy Days

Hey y'all!

    So today, I want to talk about RadioShack. Why you may ask? Because I worked there for a little over a year and a half, and I learned a thing or two about what it means to be a part of RadioShack.

    1. They really don't care about their employees. At all. I can't tell you how many times I worked my butt off while a manager or other employees went and relaxed in the back. I also can't begin to tell you how many times people were hired that had no idea what the difference between a resistor and a motor was.

    2. If they don't care about their employees, then they REALLY don't care about their customers. Yes, we plaster on a smile and ask you how your day is going. And for the most part, it was the highlight of my day when someone would tell me about life outside of my prison.

    3. They sold cell phones. That's literally about how much we are able to help. Yes, you may have purchased your phone at RadioShack, but if you have a problem two months down the road... We are super limited in what we can do.

    4. The stores are empty. A lot. And you can tell just by the recent events. Like, how RadioShack is going out of business.

    5. Any person who was at one time a RadioShack employee knows how I feel when I say I have been waiting for this day. The day RadioShack falls to the ground.

    6. If you're looking for parts... Go online. They're cheaper there. Even after shipping.

    I have a lot of disdain for RadioShack. But I can give them this much, they gave me the first job where I was absolutely miserable. Nothing like a lack of management skills and no help even when it's asked for.

    So peace out RadioShack. You had a good run.

-Haley

Come Little Sister

Hey y'all,

    Sorry for the late post. I had Trent home for the weekend, (sorta), and I didn't want to share my time. I have a topic that I do want to discuss though... It has to do with the meme that goes along the lines of, "Oh, you haven't talked to your boyfriend for a day? Try going months" or something like that. 

    The reasons that this bothers me is that first, we shouldn't be tearing each other down no matter what our spouses do. I can tell you that my Mommy was a wife of an airman who later became a soldier. Even to this day, when my Daddy has to go out of town for his job, she still misses him just as badly. Second, I don't feel for one second that what I do as a wife is any better than what anyone else does as a wife. Who are you to judge what other people do? Third, just think about what kind of message you are putting out there. You aren't saying, "I know how you feel, here's what I do to pass the time..." You are literally saying that their suffering, their pain that they are feeling, is nothing. How would you feel if someone said that to you?

    I am not saying that being apart from my husband is easy. I miss him every time he goes underway and every duty night. But I am not about to tell someone that they have no reason to cry. 

    When did it become okay to put others down? When did it become okay to hear what someone says and talk little of them?

    I think we need to reevaluate our ideas as a society. I personally refuse to be a part of that sisterhood who puts people down. Let's support one another. 

-Haley

My Best Friend

Hey y'all!

    I want to talk about the beautiful woman in the photo below. No, I don't want to talk about me, I want to talk about that woman that I have been through Hell and back with. I want to tell you about my best friend.

    This woman and I have been best friends since 7th grade. Which, when I think about it, I have absolutely no idea how we worked out to be such fantastic friends. I was the quiet orchestra chick that stuck to a routine, and she is the one that you want to go with a party and drink with.

    God and the Universe put us together and it took me years before I figured out why. It took our second year of college when it finally clicked. You see, in life you meet a whole different variety of people. You get a taste for each kind of person and you like and dislike various traits. But every blue moon, you meet someone that you kinda click with. Where you find that your brain waves are singing some "Jack and Diane". 

    I have been through so much with this beautiful woman. Her and I have helped each other when we have been at our lowest, and have had some serious fun when we were at our highest. The photo I chose was before I got married... Why I chose it is because this woman took a chance and could have ended up arrested, but didn't. Why you ask? Well, you know the saying when you get married? Something New, Something Old, Something Borrowed, Something Blue? Well one of my Something's was my garter and it decided to go missing as I was getting dressed. (I ended up finding it like, two days later.) What did my best friend do? Drove 80 mph to get me a new one, and still made it back with plenty of time to spare.

    I would kill for her. We have laughed, we have cried, we have screamed, and we have put up with the most insane shenanigans that you could possibly think of. But I know without any shred of doubt, that if I needed her or she needed me, we would be there for each other. That's what best friends are supposed to do. Hell, that's what SISTERS are supposed to do. And I couldn't be more grateful to have her in my life.

    Love you Gorgeous George!

-Haley

Our Handsome Boy

Hey y'all!

    So, today's post will be an update on Stanley the Betta. If you have been keeping up with my blog posts, you know that our poor guy had a pretty nasty case of Fin Rot. Well, it's been about a month since we first caught the Fin Rot... and I am happy to say that we finally have fin regrowth! (The kinda transparent parts at the ends and between his fins is the new fin.) I feel like such a happy fish Mommy.

    Also, you can see that his color has really started to show through. When we first got him, I thought he was white with light blue fins. Turns out, he's pink with purple fins! Apparently, when Betta's are sick, they can lose color, become lethargic, lose their appetite.... Apparently he has been sick for a long time, but seems to be finally on that golden road to recovery!

    I also went and added some live plants to his tank to keep his ammonia levels low, and that seems to be doing some serious good for him. He loves his plants very much!

    I also worked on Trent's Valentine's Day Box today. He gets a little something every year, and this one is going to be epic. Be on the look out for that DIY page for what I put in there and what I did!

Stanley thinks you should subscribe to this blog too!

    Do you have any pets that you love? Tell me about them! :) 

-Haley

Wardrobe Malfunction

Hey y'all,

    I went to the tire center to get new tires for our car... Always so fun. Not. While I was waiting, I decided to walk around and look at all the clothes I will never be able to afford or fit into and it dawned on me.

    I am simple. Basic. Boring.

    My sense of "style" is jeans and a comfy t-shirt. If I can keep an outfit under 15 bucks, I'm happy... If I can use the same pair of pants or shirt for multiple outfits... I am a happy camper. I think the most I have ever spent on a single item of day to day clothing was 40 bucks... But it was buy one get one free. So it wasn't too bad.

    The most expensive clothing item that I do own is my wedding dress, and the dress that I went to the holiday party for Trent's ship. Wedding Dress: $450, Holiday Party: $75. Still within what I consider to be a decent price range for what they were.

    I also noticed that the little girl's section and the junior's section were pretty  much the same... Other than the color schemes anyway. I don't know about you, but when I do have my own daughters, I don't want them dressing that way. There isn't a reason for them to be dressing like that when they are so young. Modesty is a good thing. I have never in my life seen so many elementary school age girls dress the way they do... I just want to throw sweatpants and t shirts at all of them!

    All in all, I would love for What Not to Wear to come raid my closet and get me a whole new wardrobe. That would be fantastic.

    What is your go to outfit for a lazy day? Let me know in the comments below!

-Haley

Super Friends

Hey y'all!

    I have had a super busy day. I managed to go to Barnes and Noble and purchased Maze Runner and the sequel for it. Along with a coloring book, a special gift for Trent, and a bookmark. I also stopped at Lush and got a Bubble Bar... I am not one for bubble baths... But I think I might be able to start taking baths. So I thought I could give it a shot. Might be relaxing.

    Do you ever have days where you think that if you had a certain super power, you'd be able to relax and get rid of that stress? Today was definitely one of those days... My superpower would be to wiggle my nose and whatever I was looking at would be cleaned and organized. There is something about the husband leaving that makes me lazy. The first thing I would clean would be our office. It seems to have accumulated nothing less than junk.

    What would your superpower be?

    There is also something I have to say about this command... I have never in my life, met such a wonderful group of ladies where I haven't already known someone there. They are a group of drama free, fantastic ladies that are so beyond welcoming that it makes life so much easier being out here on this rock. 

    It's really going to be heart-breaking when Trent and I have to leave to head back to the mainland. But only for the people aspect. I pretty much hate it here in Hawaii.

    I know it's a short one today, and I promise to make up for it tomorrow. :) Have a good one everyone!

-Haley 

My Dream House

Hey y'all!

    I have been thinking about my dream home a lot recently. It's kind of something you have to think about with all the moving you do being a part of that military life. (Yay for moving 4 times in 2 years!) 

    My dream home would definitely have that open floor plan. So that while I am in the kitchen making dinner or something, I could still see my family sitting in the living room. It would also have plenty of windows to let in all of that natural light. 

    I am a huge fan of that rustic country chic style. Where it's all homey and welcoming, without looking messy or forlorn. The color scheme would be any combination of the following colors:

    I would have a decent sized kitchen with just the right amount of counter space to be able to handle crazy holidays like Thanksgiving, but not too much where the counters look bare and sad. I would want high ceilings and carpet everywhere except for the kitchen, bathroom, and laundry room. My laundry room would have more than enough space for the washer and dryer, and would also have a folding table in there so I could fold without having to take up space on the couch.

    I would also have a room for music to be played and practiced. I would have all my string instruments, and Trent would have his dream drum set(s). It would definitely be sound proofed, because let's face it, drums never sound fabulous live....

    I would have a wrap around porch, and it would only be a single story home. I hate lugging anything upstairs. It totally sucks... especially for my bad knees anyway.

    We would have a play/homework room for our kids, and have one of those adorable spaces made that is like a dog house built into the wall... Everything would be decorated and beautiful, and a place that people felt welcome. :)

    How about you? What is something you definitely want in a dream home? Let me know!

-Haley 

Some of My Roots

Hey y'all!

    So, to get it out of the way, yes. The Seahawks lost. Yes I saw the fight at the end of the Super Bowl. Yes I thought it was rediculous. Anyway, today, I want to share with you 3 of my most cherished childhood stories. These stories helped shape me into who I am today, and I will carry them with me for the rest of my life.

Lisa Frank's Whales

    When I was about 3-ish years old, it was just my Mommy, my Daddy, and myself. The three musketeers making our way while my Daddy was in the Air Force. We were living in a tiny little house on post and didn't have much in the way of furniture. A small couch, a card table as a dinner table, simple bed frames... Pretty much the minimal amount of things that we possibly needed.

    Anyway, it was my birthday and we had spent all day doing fun things like going to the park, playing hide and go seek, and coloring. As the sun went down, my Mom pulled out a tiny little cake and they sang Happy Birthday to me. I blew out the candles and got to open a gift. Inside was a Lisa Frank Whale toy. It came with three whales and rotated around to make it look like they were jumping out of the water and back into the water.

    I. Loved. That. Toy. 

    The most memorable part of it was when the three of us just sat there creating stories of magical lands... I didn't have any type of electronic to keep me entertained, I created it for myself. :) 

Untying Daddy's Boots

    Like I have said previously, my Daddy was in the military. Every day, when he would get home from a long day at work, he would sit down on the couch and I would run over and start unlacing his boots. Now, this might sound positively boring to some people, but it was something more for me.

    I would untie the laces and watch as the dust of the day would fall off. I would loosen the laces and see the imprints that were left on the leather. I would try to take his boot off, but he would bend his foot so I couldn't do it and tease me. I knew that those boots meant that he was working so hard to provide for my Mommy, brother, sister, and myself. And besides, after the boots were off, that meant that no matter how tired he was, he would sit and ask me what I did that day, or watch a movie with me, or tickle and play with me and my siblings.

    And it always started out with untying Daddy's boots.

Bemidji Boats

    Bemidji, Minnesota is a little town in North West Minnesota. In Bemidji, there is Andrusia Lake which is home to a place known as Joe's Lodge. My Sophmore Year in High School, we went up there as a family trip to get away from the heat of Arizona and kind of reconnect as a family. (Get away from technology was a perk haha)

    We rented out a little cabin and got to play in a lake all day long. We could go fishing, hiking, and one night, we even had a nice bonfire going while we sat around and just talked. This was during an angsty time in my life (puberty... gotta love it... or something like that) and it took till the last week we were there before I shed my irritated feelings and reconnected with who I was and where I came from. I fished and provided a meal for my family and just relaxed.

Fishing with My Mommy and Daddy. :) 

    It was seriously one of the BEST vacations I have ever been on. :) Totally worth being in the car for days on end to get there. And on the way home, we even managed to swing through North Dakota and see Mt. Rushmore and got to try a Buffalo Burger! :) 

Mount Rushmore with my Brother, Sister, and three little cousins. :) 

    Those are my three most treasured memories that taught me a lot about who I was as a person, and who I wanted to become. :)

- Haley

Superbowl 49!!!

Hey y'all! 

    So, today is the Superbowl and the first day of February! I am rooting for the Seahawks only because I can't stand the Patriots. I will be busy making all kinds of yummy foods, and will post those yummy recipes on the Recipes page of this blog. :) So check it out! 
    

    Even though Trent isn't home this year for Superbowl, I am definitely celebrating with some friends that I made with the other wives on the ship. :) I am beyond excited for this... It seems like it's been a long time since I have celebrated the Superbowl the right way. (Y'know, food, family, fun) So, I can't wait! :)

    Today is also Day 1 of my self-prescribed 28 day blogging challenge. Day 1 is a self portrait. The picture I chose was on a day where I was in a particularly fabulous mood. I think I had just gotten my hair done as well. Red hair for the win!

    I also recently got something cool in the mail that is beauty related, and I will be starting a new page titled "Beauty". This page will be for any new makeup things that I purchase and use. I think I want to be a makeup artist at some point. :) That would be fantastic. And fun.

    Let me know what you think? Who are you rooting for in the game today? What yummy foods did you eat?

-Haley