The Year of Firsts

My goal for 2012 is to really savor everything about this year (well, really this started back on my wedding day).  This is the year of "firsts" for the Mr. and I as husband and wife (and many occasions are firsts since dating).  Our first Thanksgiving and Christmas ever together. First NYE as a married couple.  This is the first time we find out  where we are getting stationed next.  This year will be the first year we move for his next duty station.  There are so many things happening in a 365 day time frame that Matt and I will have the pleasure of discovering and enjoying together. Both the great and the trialing times (what if this is the first year we experience a deployment together?).   With my husband by my side, a wonderful family and a strong group of amazing friends I say, "I'm ready for you, 2012...bring it!"

YUT!

I was talking with my dad earlier today about some of the stuff I have been learning about the Marine Corps and I have come to the conclusion that the Marines are seriously a breed of their own.  Somehow, my dad and I got on the topic of where "Oorah" derived. I mean, where did this term come from?! Google has many different answers..is it really a shortened version of the "mocking" of the sound a submarine makes before going under water? Is it just a noise?   Researching all this with my dad reminded me of something from the USMC Ball Matt and I went to this year. The guest speaker of the ceremony read a quote by an anonymous Canadian citizen who talks about the Marines. In it, he mentions the sounds they make and, honestly, as soon as he said it the whole room filled with all sorts of noises (or grunts, if you will): "Oorahh", " 'Rah!", "Errrrr", "YUT!!"  I have to say, this memory always makes me giggle. It always makes me fall in love with the Marine Corps a little more. It's silly, but it's one of those moments..one of those unrehearsed moments..where all the Marines just know..they all came together like a pack of weird animals and grunted one of the four accepted calls (there could be more, but that's what really stuck in my head!).   I asked Matt what "yut!" even means (google gives a few more theories). His answers are usually pretty short, simple and straight to the point and comes with examples that help the lowly citizen understand (that's me.) [ I will insert his answers tomorrow when I can correctly quote him ]    Aaaanyway...I thought it was pretty funny and pretty fantastic to experience some of the nitty gritty of the Devil Dogs. I especially like the quote the speaker used:

Anonymous Canadian Citizen wrote....

"Marines are about the most peculiar breed of human beings I have ever witnessed.  They treat their service as if it were some kind of cult, plastering their emblem on almost everything they own, making themselves up to look like insane fanatics with haircuts to ungentlemanly lengths, worshiping their Commandant almost as if he were a god, and making weird animal noises like a band of savages.  They'll fight like rabid dogs at the drop of a hat just for the sake of a little action, and are the cockiest sons of bitches I have ever known. Most have the foulest mouths and drink well beyond a man's normal limits, but their high spirits and sense of brotherhood set them apart and, generally speaking, the United States Marines I've come in contact with are the most professional soldiers and the finest men I have ever had the pleasure to meet."

Oorah! 'Rah! Errrr! Yut!  Semper Fi...

Preggers? In My DREAMS!

You ever have those dreams that just seem so real you have to double check yourself when you wake up to make sure you are still safe and sound in your snuggley bed?  Well, I keep having those and they are the reoccurring kind. I'm one of those people who pay attention to signs. I sometimes read up on what a certain dream may mean.  If I have a dream about holding a baby and can't seem to get a good grasp on it, I know it most likely means that in reality I feel there is a responsibility I have that is weighing me down, or I am afraid of.  That's just a for instance.

Well, lately, the past few weeks I have had vivid dreams of being pregnant. I never, ever actually have the baby but I look down and all of a sudden I am four months pregnant. Sometimes, I'm seven. Sometimes, I find out it's "time" and I have to go to the hospital. Other times, I find out on a pregnancy stick and I panic about how I am going to tell Matt.  I wake up every time and rub my hand on my stomach to make sure it was just a dream (though it doesn't help if I pigged out that night...I may actually feel like I'm a few months along! ha).  It leaves a lingering thought in my head: What does it all mean? Does it mean that it's deep in my mind knowing that I'm now married and the next step the baby carriage? Does it mean that I am really ready and want to try soon? Does it mean that I'm, in reality, scared of getting pregnant?  I don't know what it means.  Maybe it's preparing me for the idea of it. I dream it enough, I get used to it, so when I find out in the real Lauren Land, it won't be so much of a shock or a panic moment. Does anyone else get these pregnancy dreams? Any insight?

While I'm on the topic of pregnancy, I'd like to mention that I find it amusing when one gets married one of the first questions people ask is, "SO...when are you guys going to start having babies?!" Ha ha..I know that's especially on my mom's mind (I don't blame her, she loves her grand-babies and wants more! She's a wonderful Nana so I am more than happy to give her more!).  I know a lot of responses, when asked, are "we haven't even thought about it, we just got married! We're going to take our time."  I have my answer prepared, since Matt and I have actually discussed when we may want to start building our family ( I know, serious stuff!).  Originally, we decided that at the one-year mark we will have that serious discussion and see whatever doctor we need to see to make sure I am healthy and on the vitamins I need to be on (off birth control, of course) and then leave it in the hands of God.

Why wait a year? To some, a year is quick, to others it may seem like a long wait (on a side note, I was told by someone right before we got married that we should wait to have kids. I've been told this before by others, but their reasoning was so that we could enjoy one another and have a little fun. But, this person said "you should wait to have kids..not have them right away...to make sure you guys work out first. Really?! Well that's a vote of confidence in our love for each other! People...). Well, there is so much going on during this first year of us being hitched that the timing just doesn't seem to fit. I know what you may be thinking: you will never find a "right" time!   Which, yes, life does throw a lot of curve balls such as not being completely financially prepared, the living situation, moving up in career, etc.   But for us, I think it's more about the fact that we know we will be re-stationing late spring/early summer. What if we move to Hawaii? Japan? Across the country? I'd rather not be 7-8 months along for such a big potential move..packing, the actual physical trip, unpacking and then trying to nest? It's just so much!  I think that's my main reason for waiting.  After we move and get settled in, I think that's when I would like to have the talk with Matt. He is excited and ready and prepared whether it's tomorrow, five months, or a year from now (I think that's sweet!).  The tough thing about military livin' is deployments (duh). Do we wait and see when he may deploy (since he finds out a few months in advance) or do we just chance it?  It's a big and stressful decision.  One, I guess, I will think about later. No sense in getting anxiety over it, now!

It's Sunday Funday for some, it's laundry and cleaning and baking for me.  My best friend of 20ish years is coming into town Tuesday and I want the place to look nice (since it's the first home I've had outside of living with my parents...who I miss, by the way)! 

Things NOT to say to a military wife...

Things NOT to say to a military wife...
Found this on a blog and thought I'd share it since I've encountered quite a few of these since being engaged to Matt!!
*I would also like to not that I do not find all the things on here offensive. Some are "duh" questions and others I think are just a little thoughtless. I understand, that like in death, people are trying to say the "right" thing or be supportive in the way/s they know how...and a lot of the time it's just a "foot in mouth" kind of moment.  That being said, I really try not to get irritated/annoyed/upset/offended when someone says something similar to what's here.  I think until you are really in a situation, you just don't know how to put yourself in that person's shoes.
     **the comments made after the Things Not to Say came with the blog...my additional notes will be after the ** and will be italicized and signed by me.

     1. "Aren't you afraid that he'll be killed?"

     (This one ranks in at number one on the "duh" list. Of course we're afraid. We're terrified. The thought          

     always lingers at the backs of our minds -- but thanks, brilliant, you just brought it back to the front.

     Maybe next you can go ask someone with cancer if they're scared of dying.

     2. "I don't know how you manage. I don't think I could do it."

     (This is intended to be a compliment. Though, it's just a little annoying. Here's why: it's not like all of us

     military wives have been dreaming since childhood of the day we'd get to be anxious, single moms who

     carry cell phones with us to the bathroom and in the shower. We're not made of some mysterious matter

     that makes us more capable, we just got asked to take on a challenging job. So, we rose to the challenge

     and found the strength to make sacrifices.)

            **For the record, this one does not bother me. Unless the context says otherwise. ~Me

     3. "At least he's not in Iraq."

     (This is the number one most annoying comment for those whose husbands are in Afghanistan. What do

     they think is happening in Afghanistan? An international game of golf? Guys are fighting and dying over

     there.)

            **Amen! ~Me

     4. "Do you think he'll get to come home for Christmas/anniversary/birthday/birth of a child/wedding/family reunion, etc?"

     (Don't you watch the news? No! They don't get to come home for any of these things. Please don't ask  

     again)

            **I'll admit...I have asked Matt before...and that's because I genuinely did not know. I don't 

     think everyone just KNOWS when they can and cannot come home. A friend of mine told me that 

     in her husband's branch of the military, a man's deployment can be pushed back if his wife is 

     pregnant so he can be there for the birth. I asked Matt if this applied to him, too, and he told me 

     that the Marines don't have that. I'm still learning, and I try to give others that extra space to 

     learn, too. But, I can also see how this question, asked often enough, can get irritating. 

     5. "What are you going to do to keep yourself busy while he's gone?"

     (Short answer: Try to keep my sanity. Maybe there's a military wife out there who gets bored when her husband leaves, but I have yet to meet her. For the rest of us, those with and without children, we find ourselves having to be two people. That keeps us plenty busy. We do get lonely, but we don't get bored, and drinking massive amounts of wine always helps keep me busy."

     6. "How much longer does he have until he can get out?"

     (This one is annoying to many of us whether our husbands are deployed or not. Many of our husbands aren't counting down the days until they "can" get out. Many of them keep signing back up again and again because they actually love what they do or they VOLUNTEER AGAIN and AGAIN to go back to Iraq b/c there is work that needs to be done.)

     7. "This deployment shouldn't be so bad, now that you're used to it."

     (Sure, we do learn coping skills and it's true the more deployments you've gone through, the easier

     dealing with it becomes. And we figure out ways to make like go smoother while the guys are gone. But

     it never gets "easy" and the bullets and bombs don't skip over our guys just because they've been there

     before. The worry never goes away.)

            **I have yet to experience a deployment, but I feel sorry for the person who tells me this down the road! Along with that, one week, one month, six months, a year..any length of deployment is scary and hard. It's not a contest who's husband has deployed or been away longer than the other. No one ever wants their spouse to be put in harms way, no matter the time frame.  So, I'd appreciate comments, like "Well...6 months? It could be longer, at least it's not a whole year or more!" to be held back. People apparently DO say these things! A friend of mine is going through her third deployment with her husband and she told me a lady told her "oh 6 months is not a long time" (or something to that nature) the day after he deployed.  Ignorance really gets me...~Me

     8. "My husband had to go to Europe for business once for three weeks. I totally know what you're going through."

     (This one is similar to number two. Do not equate your husband's three week trip to

     London/Omaha/Tokyo/etc. with a 6-15 month or more deployment to a war zone. Aside from the

     obvious time difference, nobody shot at your husband or tried to blow him up with an I.E.D..your

     husband could call home pretty much any time he wanted to..he flew comfortably on a commercial plane,

     slept between crisp white sheets and ate well, paying for everything with an expense account. There is no

     comparison. We do not feel bonded to you in the slightest because of this comment and, if anything, we

     probably resent you a bit for it. Comparing a 12 months combat deployment to a few weeks business  

     trip is like comparing a shitty ford taurus with mercedes convertible.)

     9. "Wow you must miss him?"

     (This one also gets another big "duh". Of course we miss our men. There are some wives who do not and they're now divorced.)

     10. "Where is he exactly? Where is that?"

     (I don't expect non-military folk to be able to find Anbar Province on a map, but they should know by

     now that it's in Iraq. Likewise, know that Kabul and Kandahar are in Afghanistan. Know that Muqtada

     al Sadr is the insurgent leader of the Mahdi Army in Iraq and that Sadr City is his home area. Know that

     Iran is a major threat to our country and that it is located between Afghanistan and Iraq. Our country has

     been at war in Afghanistan for seven years and at war in Iraq for five years. These basic facts are not

     secrets, they're on the news every night and in the papers every day --and on maps everywhere.)

            **The response to that may be a little harsh. I am geographically challenged and while I have 

       HEARD of these places, I couldn't tell you exactly where they are (though I do know where Iran is and that is IS a threat to our country).  I think the intention is good and it is just polite conversation. But again, I'm sure spouses of deployed men hear this question A LOT and it could get tiresome. ~Me

     11. "Well, he signed up for it, so it's his own fault whatever happens over there."

     (Yes, ignorant, he did sign up. Each and every day he protects your right to make stupid comments like that. He didn't sign up and ask to be hit by anything, he signed up to protect his country. Oh, and by the way, he asked me to tell you that "You're welcome." He's still fighting for your freedom.)

            **I'm going to piggy-back off this and add "You knew what you were getting yourself into"

     (in response to me expressing whatever feelings I'm having about military life): I feel I have 

     heard this A LOT in the past year since moving to California. I didn't weigh the pro's and con's of 

     being married to Matt. You love who you love, you don't try to make it "logical". I didn't care, I 

     fell in love with him. He just so happens to be a Marine. So, ya ya ya, while I knew what I was 

     "getting myself into", it does not make the idea of deployments/future moves around the country 

     (or world)/raising kids on my own/being away from my family and life long friends/etc. any easier. 

     And, you know, it's just not a very supportive thing to say..I can think of a hundred acceptable 

     words of support and encouragement that are not "you knew what you signed up for". True, I'm 

     more prepared to brace myself to cope than if it was completely sprung upon me, but one can only 

     prepare so much. Just food for thought! :) ~Me

     12. "Don't you miss sex! I couldn't do it!"

     (hmmmm, no I don't miss sex, I'm a robot. Seriously...military spouses learn quickly that our relationships

     must be founded on something greater than sex. We learn to appreciate the important things, like simply

     hearing their voices, seeing their faces, being able to have dinner together every night. And the hard truth

     is, most relationships probably couldn't withstand 12 months of sex deprivation.)

            **they make toys for that. ~Me

     13. "Well, in my opinion....."

     (Stop right there. Yo, I didn't ask for your personal political opinions. Hey, I love a heated political

     debate, but not in the grocery store, not in Jamba Juice, not at Nordstrom, not in a restaurant when I'm

     out with my girls trying to forget the war, and CERTAINLY NOT AT WORK. We tell co-workers

     about deployments so when we have to spend lunch hours running our asses off doing errands and taking

     care of the house, dog, and kids, they have an understanding. We do not tell co-workers and colleagues

     because we are giving an invitation to ramble about politics or because we so eagerly want to hear how

     much they hate the President, esp. while we're trying to heat up our lean cuisines in the crappy office

     microwaves.)

            **Well, unless it's a good friend or someone who knows your business, I don't know how 

     those topics would come up in those kinds of places, but I'm all for getting opinions that are 

    supportive. But I get what the person here is saying. I've never been through a deployment so I 

    can't really speak from that angle. ~Me

     14. "OH, that's horrible...I'm so sorry!"

     (He's doing his job and he's tough. Don't be sorry. Be appreciative and please take a moment out of your  

     comfortable American lives to realize that our soldiers fight the wars abroad so those wars stay abroad.)

            **Eh, I personally think the response to that may be a little harsh. I think mainly because of the "comfortable American lives" comment..you can't always assume that someone hasn't gone through really, really hard times...just because they may not be in a military family does not mean they are comfortable. That part bothers me, obviously the writer is irritated. Moving on.... in the right context, I don't have a problem with this statement. I would not take it the wrong way if I called my friend up saying that my husband is getting deployed and she says "oh Lauren I'm sorry!". Well, of course she doesn't have to be sorry, for the reasons stated above. BUT, I can understand someone being sad/sorry that  half my heart is going away, and towards danger..and that I may miss Christmas, or our birthdays, or some other special day with him...or what if I'm pregnant and he's away? I think someone can genuinely be sorry that I will be going through a hard time, as well as the love of my life.   But Matt had a different response, and I think he understands that in a different context it can be taken as a typical knee-jerk response and that it DOES bother spouses. It's like "what are you sorry for?" and in times the response is more like "uh...well I'm not but that sucks." (duh). He explained it better to me than I can relay on here. I guess I will understand when the time comes. But as I think about it now, women I know who have told me their beloved is deploying, I don't I ever told them I was sorry. I am pretty sure my first response is "Oh goodness, when is he supposed to leave? If there is anything I can do for you, you just let me know. I'm always here."  I guess just offering your support is the most you can do. And ya, I'll say "I'm so sorry" when down the line the female is talking about how hard it is, how much she misses him..What else can you say? I AM sorry you're hurting :(   I am here for you.      But, again, this is all just my opinion. 

Military livin' ain't easy! But, boy, is it an adventure...

Thanksgiving Weekend

It's Saturday night and I am in bed watching Law and Order while the boys are snoozing away (oh, how I wish I could just fall asleep when my head hits the pillow!). I figure what better time than now to post a little update on here?

Thanksgiving day was pretty good! Had a bit of a rough start, though.  The four-cheese mac 'n cheese I was making had a bit of an issue..I accidentally put 2 cups of milk versus 4 in the cheese sauce..ugh! So, while it still came out super tasty (thank goodness!!) it wasn't exactly how I like it.  Then while I was frantically getting ready while the pasta was baking, I dropped a beauty product in the toilet! I don't know how exactly that happened, all I know is I was on the phone with my mom asking her if my macaroni dish was ruined because of my miscalculation. So, it was a pretty stressful start. But, once we got to the house we were spending the afternoon at, everything smoothed out and we had a pretty great time! Everyone loved the macaroni dish. Mission accomplished.

Today, the Mr. and I went to the mall to browse around and gather some Christmas decorations. I'm stoked to put it all up! Between the mall and target, we bought a tree, some lights, ornaments, a couple Mickey and Minnie stockings, a wreath, some Christmas-smelling candles and some Santa place mats. We also got a high-end wet-vacuum to clean our carpets (I would love to say my dog can do no wrong...but lately he has been having "accidents" near the back sliding doors...lovely). So while the carpets are drying out tonight, I wait. Tomorrow, we will set up the tree and everything else.

One last thing..I tried to make the Snickerdoodle muffins on Wednesday and I had a complete fail! I still can't figure out what happened, but it's like the butter melted and floated to the tops of them. And they didn't firm up like muffins do, Matt ate a couple using a fork and said it tasted like very tasty oatmeal, but not muffins. Hmm..I may have at them again one day soon...but for now I'm fed up. I'll stick with the recipes I do know. :)

Snickerdoodle Muffins

My all-time favorite cookie is the Snickerdoodle. I make them every year around Christmas. Love, love, love them! Right now I am in search of the recipe I had last year, which I think I've lost. (Wahhh!)  They were always soft and moist, no matter if they were fresh out of the oven or a week old. So, I had my mom look for the recipe in her kitchen, just in case I left it there, and she found along the way a recipe to Snickerdoodle MUFFINS. Now this I must try! If you're interested, here's the recipe:

Snickerdoodle Muffins

• 1 * 1/2 self-rising flour
• 1 cup oats
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 4 Tbsp butter
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 cup milk

Mix all dry ingredients together: flour, oats, 1/2 cup sugar. Mix together egg, butter, vanilla & milk. Add wet mixture to dry. Mix well. Fill muffin cups 2/3 way full. Bake at 400 for 12-14 minutes.

While baking, mix the topping together: 1/2 cup of sugar and 1 tsp of cinnamon. Once muffins are out, sprinkle topping on top. If you prefer a lot of cinnamon and sugar, brush a little melted butter on top of the muffin to get more of the topping to stick.

This is not a  paleo recipe for so many reasons.. but who cares. Sounds delicious!  Let me know if there are any tweeks you make, if you bake this. I'm going to try it out this week, I believe. 

Playing Catch-Up

Again, I suck at life when it comes to blogging. I'm sorry!!  I'll give you a run-down of what's been going on since coming home from our honeymoon:

1. Marine Corp Birthday Ball- This one was again in Reno this year. By far, the best Ball I have been to!! Normally, people leave right after dinner to go gamble, or have their own private party in their hotel room, or go clubbing (whatever it is, it's not in the ball room). This year, the majority of the people stayed! And actually danced! It was even more fun because I actually knew more people this time around. My friend Courtney (who lately has boycotted Balls) decided to come, I know the CO's wife better so we had good chats and danced, a mutual friend of Matt and I's was there (he's a civilian employee in Matt's office) and a new friend we made we found out was going since he used to be an active Marine.  All in all, great time!!

2. A Visitor's Coming!!- The week we got back from our honeymoon I got a call from my best friend of almost 20 years saying she wants to come out and visit! Now, normally, I just assume "oh, she wants to come in the next 6 months or when we move to our new place at some point". I get it..I'm across the country, spontaneous trips are not usually going to happen. But this time, it is! She called, gave me a date to "okay" and now I have my girl visiting from December 6th - 20th..2 whole weeks! Needless to say, I am stoked.  And I am extra excited she gets to know the Mr. a little better.  I think this trip will be good for the both of us.

3. Pictures! - They're heeeere!! Our wedding photos finally came in! Well, via the photo site, anyway. We are still waiting for the index photos to come in and the order sheet. But our friend, Phil, has a way to extract the photos off of the website and has been emailing them to me so I can post on facebook..so I shall share a few at the end of the blog (extracting takes a long time so right now we have the getting ready photos and some bridal shots..still waiting on ceremony and rehearsal and the Magic Kingdom photoshoot). 


So, that's really it as far as report-able news on our end.  A friend of ours just got hitched, we found out! Her honey comes in town for a visit, Matt and I leave for the Ball, we come back and find out they spontaneously went to Reno to get married!! I think it came as a shock to all of us and their families (they've been dating a month, month and half or so) but I guess when you know, you know!! She looks happily in love and excited for her recent news, so I am equally happy and excited for her :)  Ain't love grand!  The best of love and wishes goes out to her and her new husband <3

Thanksgiving is coming up this week. Normally, I am uber excited for it. The family, good eats, the time off everyone has to play. This year it just doesn't seem like Thanksgiving! It's my first holiday away from home.  I am very thankful to have my husband here to share it with me (I know a few women whose hubbies are deployed or not able to be home..and my heart goes out to them. Strongest ladies I know!) and I am excited to have my first holiday with my husband. My new family. I'm just really blue about the fact I won't be with my parents and sister, as well. I am allowing myself to be sad because it IS my first holiday where things are different. I've spent 25/26 years having a tradition. And now that's changing. Change is okay. I know that. But, I'm still allowed to mourn the loss of one to replace it with a new.   I was hoping this year to have ours here at the apartment, even if it is just Matt and I. He would cook the turkey, I would whip up everything else. While I cook he was going to try to volunteer to work the event Run for the Hungry (or something like that). But now I think we are going to spend it at a fellow Marine's mother's house.  I'm not against the idea. It's different. It's not how I imagined our first Thanksgiving together. I'm really really shy around people I don't know and I know I will feel pretty uncomfortable (I really don't want to resort taking a shot to ease my nerves!! lol) but I know it was very sweet of this gentleman to invite us, so if Matt wants to go, then I do, too. There will be plenty of other Thanksgivings to spend with our families or just us! Matt requested I make my homemade Four Cheese Mac and Cheese :). So I'm doing that and baking a mix of cookies to bring over. All this talk of food is making me hungry!!

As for news on the internship, I am still trying to work in an appointment to get my fingerprints done. I have to do it at their office so the ball is really in their court. I've been calling here and there to get updates on my information packet they used for a background check, and to see if they found someone to fingerprint me, but so far I haven't been given a concrete date. The admin assistant I spoke with 10 minutes ago says she will call me tomorrow morning to let me know if the lady who does fingerprints will be in the office. It's Thanksgiving week, so I guess a lot of the staff is out of town. I just want to get this done and out of the way so I can be one step closer to starting! (That is, if they decide to bring me on.)  Experience would be welcomed in my book so I can apply somewhere for REAL with confidence to wherever we move next (which I hope we find out this month!). 


Okay, I'm going to get dinner started. Oh, did I tell you Matt and I are starting the Paleo diet? Well, I guess it's not really a diet, per say, but a "way of life". Basically changing up our eating lifestyle and exercising. I'll get into that in a later blog. For now, I'll post some of my favorite pictures we have from our Getting Ready Photos :)

Our Disneymoon

They say that Disney World is the #1 place newlyweds are honeymooning these days...and I totally see why!! The Mr. and I spent almost a full week at the parks and then we went on the Disney cruise from the Sunday after the wedding until Thursday morning.  I couldn't be happier with the decision we made to keep everything Disney.  A lot of people brought up when I told them of our plan, "aren't there going to be too many kids?" or " it seems a little hectic to be a romantic honeymoon". Well, ya, it's a little hard to be mushy, gushy, sickeningly sweet romantic at a Disney theme park, but luckily for us, that was not what we were looking for.  Matt and I are kids at heart. We wanted a fun, light-hearted time..and we find the romance in the little things.

The Disney cast members are freakin' amazing! Because we wore our "Just Married" buttons and our Mickey and Minnie wedding ears, every cast member we passed congratulated us.  Every time we waited in line (which this trip was never long at all..booyah!) one would ask us about the wedding and sound genuinely excited for us. When we would walk up to the ride, they would let Matt and I pick where we wanted to sit (score!). There were some really nice employees who gave us things without any charge: photos from the ride we were just on, coffee, dessert, food from the Food and Wine Festival...and more.  It was not expected but we totally appreciated it.  We felt really special (who shouldn't feel special on their honeymoon?!).  Sure, there were tons of kids. Tons of unruly strollers. Tons of crowds. But that's expected at the Disney World. At least the lines were extremely short everywhere we went (I think the longest line we waited in was to meet Mickey and Minnie..I'll post those pictures soon!). Can't beat that!!

Every day I had reservations set up at a restaurant. At Epcot, we ate at both China AND Italy. Hollywood Studios we ate at the Sci-Fi Drive-In (which is my favorite!). The food in there isn't top notch(you know, just burgers and fries, shakes, that kind of food), but inside it looks like you are sitting in a drive-in theater back in the 50's. The "sky" is dark and lit with stars..the theater screen shows movie commercials, ads, and cartoons from back in the day, and our tables? They are CARS. I think it's the coolest :)   Then we ate at Planet Hollywood in Downtown Disney..Tony's (where Lady and the Tramp had that infamous spaghetti kiss) at Magic Kingdom, and then Artist Point at our resort (Wilderness Lodge). 


The cruise...all I can say is "wow".  This was my first cruise ever, and Matt's first Disney cruise. Any notions you have that a Disney cruise is all family and kid related? Think again. Disney did such an amazing job providing fun and services for everyone. The only time Matt and I were ever really surrounded by kids was when we waited in line to meet Goofy and Tinkerbell (call us dorks..whatever!) and then when we were on the main deck taking a peek at the outdoor movie theater. At the time is was playing Lady and the Tramp. I loved it!!  Other than that, our activities were pretty secluded from the families and kids. There were a good handful or two of bars and clubs for adults only.we had an adult only section on the top deck equipped with bars, multiple pools and hot tubs, private lay-out sections, and more! We had an adult karaoke night (Matt made me sing once) and a Match Your Mate show, which is like the Newlyweds Game. There were trivia nights, a pirate party, they played movies. You name it.  So, our cruise went to the Bahamas. Our first day was Nassau and our second day was Castaway Cay..the Cay that Disney owns in the Bahamas. The weather was gorgeous!! We did a glass bottom boat voyage at each of our destinations and then layed out, afterwards. Our third day was a full day at sea which was perfect. We layed out on the top deck, with a good book, and had guys coming by offering us frozen cocktails. We gladly accepted.

Our honeymoon was a glorious two weeks. Just long enough to feel we did everything we wanted to do, and coming home wasn't such a bummer. I think we were both ready to get home as husband and wife and see our furbaby (who we haven't seen in three weeks!!). I now am wishing we could be back there, enjoying the sun and seeing the Christmas decorations the parks are filled with starting this month. But, we still have our annual passes (thanks to the Disney Wedding Team!) so I think we are going to try to have another Disney vacation sometime in the spring. When Matt and I relocate to where he is stationed next, he has a good 20 to 20something days off before he reports for duty. I think that sounds like a perfect time to vacation again in Orlando!

Here Comes the Bride!!

I have been a TOTAL slacker when it comes to my blog! Though, I think I am forgiven, considering I spent three whole weeks in Orlando planning the wedding, actually getting married, then going on my glorious, two-week, honeymoon!!

Let me start by saying: I had the best time on my wedding day! From waking up having hot chocolate delivered to my room to coming back to the room, surprised with rose petals and a solid dinner, everything was perfect :)

It's true when people tell you to relish every minute of your day because it flies by oh-so-fast. I definitely did take my time outs to look around and take in the atmosphere..to look at Matt and see how happy he was..to look at my family as well as the new family...and take in all the details I could of what I spent so much time and effort to put together.  All those times I had been brought to tears over the course of our 14-month engagement was proven to be worth it..x10.

Disney did an amazing job putting everything together. Not once was I confused in where I was going, what I was doing, the decor was amazing, the cake, the lighting, the staff. Definitely worth every penny spent. We are still in search of the perfect gift to send our planners in thanks for being so wonderful. They worked really hard to make this as easy of a planning period as possible, especially since I live over 3,000 miles away!

There were two things that I really cared about turning out perfect: the photography and the food. Let's start with the photography. I loved our photographer! Her name's Regina and she happens to be a huge Boston sports fan, so we knew it was meant to be (for those who don't know, Matt is a die-hard Boston fan)! I told her I like pictures that are creative and unique. Pictures that can be editorial. Of course I also like the candid shots and the fun colorful shots..but if I am spending quite a bit of money on photography I want photos that have that special something. Along with our wedding day photos we did an early morning photo session at Magic Kingdom in and in front of Cinderella's Castle. Regina sent us a sneak preview of the photos to come and we are completely in awe! It was more than I was asking for and I am on pins and needles awaiting all the rest!!

The food was fantastic. My dress was super tight so I couldn't indulge myself in all the yummy things that I wanted, but I sampled enough to know how tasty everything was :)  I have gotten a lot of compliments still to this day on how great it was, so this gal is satisfied!! Oh, and the cake? Where do I even begin?? I basically gave the planners the idea of vintage Alice in Wonderland with classy colors to match the rest of the wedding but left the rest up to the bakers. They did such a wonderful job. There were the playing cards "flying about", a tea pot pouring "tea" down the cake and into the teacup that held the bride and groom (wearing Mickey ears, might I add!), and vintage-looking photos of Alice in Wonderland circling around the bottom tier.  Perfect :)

Now...my favorite part of the day (also the scariest) was the moments leading up to and walking down the aisle. I loved spending those few minutes alone with my dad...just taking a deep breath..seeing how happy he was and how calm he was. That, in turn, calmed my nerves (because let me tell you, the rush to get photos done, and get all the girls rounded up, and so many people talking to me at once I wanted to scream a little. I was starting to feel claustrophobic, especially since my dress was so tight!).  Then, I heard the bridal march begin. The door flew open and all I saw was Matt straight ahead in his uniform. What I thought was going to be the scariest walk of my life turned out to be simple. I had my dad to hold on to and the love of my life right ahead..looking proud and happy and excited. In love.  Sure I had my nervous giggles saying my vows, but I enjoyed every second of it. It's something I will never get to do again for the first time (there's always renewing vows..but it's not the exact same).  There are so many details and memories I want to share on here, but, I am trying to keep this a blog and not a novel. I will divulge details in the course of the next few blogs when I talk about our honeymoon and when I post pictures (the pictures I'm waiting for from the photographer..there are quite a few pictures that tell a really great story and share these specific memories I am talking of now). So, in time!

I want to thank all my family and friends for being so supportive and sending all their love our way. I am so so so thankful to all the friends and family who were able to make the trip to Disney and share this amazing, special day with us. This was a day where Matt and I truly felt like family to each other and our families now coming together. I couldn't be more thankful than I am now for the people I have in my life. <3

Until next time, this is now Mrs. Devil Dog signing off. 'Rah, Right Out!'

We're Herrrrrre!!

We finally made it to Orlando!! Other than having issues with our designated transportation upon arrival, everything was a breeze! The flight was okay, not too much turbulance, and Matt and I shared a bottle of wine on the plane (sure did keep my nerves in check!)  And the weather? The weather! It has been absolutely gorgeous compared to what the forecast said!! Even though we got in late last night, my family said it has been nice the past few days (phwew!).

Tonight we had dinner at the Animal Kingdom Lodge at an African inspired restaurant called Boma. It was actually pretty cool! Buffet style..they had SO many things to choose from! And the dessert..to die for! It was like they had a mini taste tester of everything..so I didn't feel so guilty placing 4-5 desserts on my plate lol. It was so great to finally see my family, including my sister, Janet, and her little family! It's been about two years since I've seen her, her husband, or my adorable niece, Kaidyn.

Tomorrow is reserved for Matt and I to run some errands. Can't really say what they are, at the moment, but it will take most of the afternoon. I'm hoping after to come back "home", relax with a glass of wine, and just zone out until all the festivities begin.  Oh ya, the house! The house my parents rented is quite amazing. It's 7 bedrooms, it has a screened in large pool with a kiddie pool (shaped like Mickey Mouse) and also a hot tub. Each room has it's own bathroom, and most rooms are king sized beds. If not king, then it's a queen. Fully furnished, full kitchen..and the garage is renovated into an actual theater room with 6 or 7 leather lazy boy recliners, huge big screen tv (like at the movies almost! Though, obviously, not that quite large!). My only complaint? Our neighbors. There are like 10-15 people over there, most of them kids, and they blare their hiphop music outside until well past 2am. Maybe I'm getting old, but I find it rude to be so noisy, especially after 10pm. Where are their parents? Ugh.

Anyway, I'm going to head off and get into bed! Early day tomorrow (early for me, anyway..I'm still on west coast time!).  I'm excited to see everyone in just a couple days!! Surprisingly I'm not all that nervous for the wedding day. It may sound silly but a little part of me is bummed because now that it's here, time will fly. Our wedding day will fly..our honeymoon will fly..and then we will be back home and I have to start working. LoL I know, I'm my own buzz kill!!  But, I will definitely savor this time and these memories...yay! It's here, it's here!! And yay for sunny weather!!! Let's just hope it keeps it up all throughout Sunday. :)  Fingers and toes crossed!  xo

160 Hours

160 Hours until I am officially Mrs. Devil Dog!! 6 day...160 hours...I just can't seem to really comprehend the idea of it!!  I have been planning and planning this wedding for so long...and now that we leave tomorrow for Disney World? Unbelievable! We are packed...we have Petrie and wonderful sitter (and friend) ...now we just catch that plane and RELAX! (to the best of my ability..I mean come on...is there ever a moment where the bride doesn't wonder/stress about something?) 

I checked the weather forecast and it looks like it is constant thunderstorms all day every day until next Monday...what the heck!?  Hopefully the Florida weather changes often enough to not effect my wedding or honeymoon (and yes, I know people say rain is good luck...but do I want it raining on my wedding day when we paid a good amount for photography..outdoors? no.)


I'll keep checking in throughout the week..we will be staying at the house my parents are renting until our wedding night..I'm stoked to see my family, my older sister and niece...my future in-laws..it's gonna be great!!  I only wish my oldest sister and her kids are able to make it. I have a feeling they won't...but I will deal with those feelings later...*sigh*

Alrighty..the celebratory drink Matt made us is kicking in, so I'm gonna sign off! I hate plane rides so say a little prayer for us!! 6 days!!! woo hoo!!!

Are We There Yet?

One week!! (Well, less than a week, officially!)  This time next week it will be 3am east coast time and Matt and I will be tucked in bed in our rooms (ahem, separate bedrooms might I add...we cannot sleep together in the same bed until we are married as long as we are under my parent's roof lol) and asleep at the house my parents are renting for the wedding vacation!!  There is still a bunch of things I need to take care of here at the apartment before we leave, which has me stressed out a little (just a little) but before I know it we will be on a plane..me relaxing with my Xanax and a alcoholic beverage (lol) and on our way to Disney World!!!

My biggest concern was what we were going to do with Petrie. I just relocated him out here to California..now I have to leave him alone for 3 whole weeks?! It's been my BIGGEST stress.  There have been a couple girlfriends who graciously offered to watch him while we are gone, and I am SO happy for that.  A girlfriend of mine said she would stay at the apartment and watch over it as well as Petrie...so that means I don't have to go to post office now and cut off our mail, etc etc. SO nice of her. And our other key will be given to one of Matt's Marines, just in case. So now, 90% of the pressure is lifted off my chest (ahhhhh BIG SIGH!!!). 


Now, the things I have to do are not necessarily a never-ending list, but just a little tedious. I have to go out tomorrow and deliver my application to the probation dept (which, by the way, my interview went extremely well and I am very optimistic! yay!), look for a camera case to safely lug around my Nikon camera (I will be taking TONS of pictures!), make pocket schedules for the wedding party so they know where to go and what time, make a soundtrack for the rehearsal dinner, make my mani/pedi appointment before we leave, clean the apartment for our house guest...then PACK!! Oy...We all know it takes me FOREVER to pack..I am OCD about the placement of my things in my luggage. Oh well...I'm just so excited!!  There's more to the list..but hopefully Matt isn't working crazy hours this week so that way he can help me with a bunch of these things!!

Anyway, just wanted to share: officially less than a week!! I just want to get there and get this party started!! <3

Better Late Than Never-Bridal Shower

And here are pictures from my Alice in Wonderland Mad Hatter Tea Party!

The Wonderful Ladies Who Made This Shower Amazing

my future sister in law and I 

Better Late Than Never- Bachelorette Party

Alrighty, folks...I promised some pictures from my bachelorette party as well as my bridal shower (the shower pics will come in a second blog since this one is not letting me add more)

The Girls Who Braved Hurricane Irene! DC Here We Come!

Cheers to the Bachelorette!

Pre-gamin' @ the Hotel

with my gf Kimmy

Okay...I'll be bad for the night!

Thank you girls for making it SUCH a fun and memorable trip!! I truly had a blast!!! Love you ALL!! xoxoxo

Gettin' Back On My Feet

Before moving out to California I was such the busy little bee. I worked part time at a bar in a conference center, I was in my last semester of college full time and I interned at the juvenile probation part time (after spending a whole summer working completely full time there).  I was motivated. I was going places. My mind was set on getting myself on a path to a great career ahead of me.  Well, then came graduation. Then packing. Then moving.  I wanted to do what everyone else does when they graduate: take time off.  I wanted to take a few months off to settle in to my new home with the future Mr., relax, spend some time actually being able to sit down and plan my wedding.  Three months has now turned into eight. Eight months of feeling like I'm losing all the knowledge I gained at the JCSU.

 Don't get me wrong, I tried multiple times to apply for internships here.  Matt had met the chief criminal investigator for the DA's office and he said to give him a call and he will set me up with something. Sweet! Well, he did what he said and gave me contact information for a juvenile probation opening...but I called that contact multiple times, leaving messages and then waiting and waiting by my phone. I call the original gentleman back and he told me that since it was the beginning of July and there were major budget cuts, there weren't any more openings at his office and the only thing available was a position with environmental fraud. That's not exactly what I was looking for (yawn) but beggars can't really be choosers.

When the time came for me to contact the environmental fraud department, Matt came to me with the news he met a man who has contacts in the probation department in the next county over and that he would let this department know I would be contacting them.  So that's just what I did tonight. I emailed this gentleman my cover letter, resume, and an email that identified who I was and what it was exactly that I am looking for.  Finally, I feel things are starting to fall into place for ME! I will feel like I'm actually accomplishing something every day other than mastering the kitchen (which I still plan on doing in my spare time!) and doing the daily chores. I just want to get the hours and the experience I need to help me land a paying job wherever we are stationed next. I'm so excited to get back into things!!

I'm just going to say for the record, I'm doing this for me. For my own happiness and self-achievements. I have heard comments, behind my back and to my face, over the past couple months about how I should be getting a job. I should get a job to "help contribute to the household so we can afford to 'party' more and do fun things with the friends". When I have responded saying that I am in the process of finding an internship (since I'm moving in less than a year, with background checks and all that it's near impossible to find a job that relates to my degree. And that's just not fair to the company to leave soon after I start) I got the response of "well you need something that will actually look good on your resume." Really? Willing to work for free just so I can gain experience and learn the ropes of the system..you don't think that will look good? Whatever. Yea..I don't like hearing that crap. It is no one's business but my own (and Matt's) on how we should be, financially. We do fine as it is and we CAN do fun things..but seeing as how we are having a destination wedding and a two week honeymoon coming up, I think it's only understandable that we are a little smarter with our spendings until then. If I don't ask for your opinion on the way we run our household, then it's best to keep those thoughts to yourself. Or else you end up offending someone (me).

Okay...deep breath! Now that I let that out I can go back to feeling excited about my (hopeful) phone call tomorrow and HOPE I can get started on my background check paperwork!! Keep your fingers crossed for me!!

21 Days!

21 days! That's 3 WEEKS! 3 weeks until I say "I Do" to my best friend and partner for life! It seems just like yesterday I was sitting on the bed talking to Matt and getting giddy over it being 85 days until the big day. Now..just 3 weeks. TWO weeks, exactly, until we are packing up the last of our knick-knacks and then jet-settin' off to Disney World...eeeee so excited!!

So latest update:  things so far are running very smoothly! FINALLY all the RSVP's are turned in! Now we are just ordering the number of programs, favors, table labels and card names...which is fairly easy. Especially now that we know who all is coming to the wedding :)   Other than that, I am now just making the final to-do lists which include last minute Disneymoon shopping, making a list of what to pack and what not to forget (passport, annual park passes, etc).  


So, NOW, instead of feeling frenzied and stressed, I can now enjoy these moments and relish the excitement bubbling up!! I want to hurry up and go to Disney!I want to marry my fiance, I want to ride the rides, see the entertainment, go to the cirque del soleil! I want to, after a busy week at the parks, hop on the new Disney cruise line and spend a wonderful 4 relaxing days on a cruise with my new hubby. Can't wait, can't wait, can't wait!!   :D

"I Am A Marine Wife"-Pat Egan

My girlfriend, Becky, bought me this book called "Roses and Thorns"..it's basically a hand-book for the Marine Corps enlisted wives (though I'm not an enlisted wife, Matt's an officer, I think there is lots and lots of vital information in this book). In the front cover, there is a poem (or whatever you want to call it) that I would like to share:

I am a Marine Wife.

I share my husband's pride in the Marine Corps. 

My husband  has conquered the most challenging military training program the United States has to offer. 

The Eagle, Globe and Anchor give testimony to his title:" Leader of Men - United States Marine." 

He has taken his place among history's Marines who have made the free world feel safer just hearing the words, "The Marines have landed, and the situation is well in hand." 

I am proud that in an age that scorns fighting men, he chooses to be ready to defend his country. 

Although I can never fully undestand his devotion to this fighting fraternity, I realize that these closed corners of his heart and mind are no threat to our marriage. 

That without this dedication to the work "Marine" and all it stands for - honor, courage, patriotism, and devotion to duty - he would not be the man he is. 

I try to be familiar with the job so I can appreciate his abilities.
I wait when long hours or tours of dute seperate us, knowing our reunion will revitalize our marriage. 

I pray for his success in his career and for his safe returns. 

I hope that he fulfills his potential and that I will never be a deterrent. 

I share a common bond with those wives who waited during Belleau Wood, Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Iwo Jima, Inchon, Khe Sanh, Beirut, Grenada...knowing one day I may be the one waiting.
I choose to let the possibility of loss increase the intensity of the moment to live fully, to love completely. 

My husband has earned his right to be called "Marine." He has been tested and not found lacking. May I be found as worthy of the title "Marine Wife."

Guilty Pleasure

Everyone who knows me well, knows that I LOVE LOVE LOVE to read. One of my favorite things to do is find a good book, hightail it to the pool and just lounge in the sun, letting the whole world just melt away (while I melt away in the heat..ugh) and just get lost in a while new story.. It's my break from reality and I love it. :)

And as everyone else who knows me well knows, I love to read thrillers, mysteries, you know, those kinds of novels (the Kay Scarpetta series by Patricia Cornwell, Kathy Reichs novels, J.D. Robb the In Death series, and so on)  But, every once in a while, and not often, I like to get into a good romance novel. (I know what you're thinking:Romance novel?! ICK!) But seriously, when I was in high school I would raid my oldest sister's book collection and she recommended a humorous romance novel written by Suzan Elizabeth Phillips. I think the first one I read was called "Baby of Mine" (which so far is still my favorite). Now, while they are technically romance...it's not all mushy gushy. It's quirky..you fall in love with the characters and you can pretty much relate.  I read, like, 7 of them one summer.

I was feeling nostalgic yesterday while browsing through Matt's Nook (the e-reader similar to Kindle) and found a S.E.P. book I haven't read yet. The name of it's Honey Moon (in case you want to give it a shot). I'm 2/3 way through and I am on pins and needles with what happens next!! So far it's been sassy, quirky, sad (really sad), and these books have a way with frustrating the hell out of you! I am yelling in my head "WHY can't you see she loves you, fool!!" and "woman, speak up if you like him! Quit playing these games! Guys don't take hints..they're dense...ya gotta be straight up!" Ugh...but I love it. It's my guilty pleasure. These are the only novels I read in that category and they've yet to fail me.  Bored one day? Give one a read. Let me know what you think :)

A Little TASTE of Disney

For my birthday, my sister got me the Disney Cookbook...it's filled with recipes from many of the restaurants in the theme parks as well as some of the resorts.  One easy, easy recipe I came across is a key lime pie from Olivia's Cafe-Disney's Old Key West Resort at Disney World. It's simple and delicious.

• 5 large egg yolks
• 1 can (14oz) sweetened condensed milk
• 2/3 cup Key lime juice (you can find there where you would look for lemon or lime juices)
• 1 prepared 9-inch graham cracker piecrust

1. preheat oven to 350
2. gently whisk yolks together in a bowl; do not let them foam. Stirring constantly, slowly blend in the sweetened condensed milk and Key lime juice
3. Pour mixture into piecrust and bake 12-15 minutes, or until set
4. Remove the pie from the oven and cool to room temperature on a wire rack. Chill, covered, until very cold
5. Serve chilled, cut into wedges

It really was simple to make. I managed to whip it all together while waiting for my dinner to cook (I was waiting on my rice)

Next, I will try the recipe: Buttermilk Fried Chicken from Classic Hall-Disney's Pop Century Resort.(that will have to wait until after the wedding...until then, a girl can dream!)

Hey Yawwwwwl!!!

In exchange for writing about what I WANTED to originally write about..something that's been weighing on my mind ...and since I've been advised to just not go there, I'm going to instead just give a REALLY great recipe I discovered by Paula Deen (Hey Yawwwl!!...hey, I get to tease..my roots are very southern and most of my family are equipped with the ever-so-catchy southern drawl) .  It's her chicken, rice and green bean casserole. I made a FEW alterations. If you want the full, original recipe just look the chicken and rice recipe up on the Food Network website :)

Chicken, Rice and Green Bean Casserole

you will need:

1. 3 cups chopped boneless skinless chicken breast (I just boil 3 boneless skinless breasts and use it all..it's a little more than 3 but that's okay) 
2. 2 cans fresh cut green beans, drained
3. 1 diced up red bell pepper (the recipe asked for a can of pimento, drained...I like to use the bell pepper)
4. 1 finely chopped onion
5. couple garlic cloves, minced (I don't believe this was in the original, but I add garlic to everything!)
6. 1 6oz box of long grain wild rice (because I have a little extra chicken, I make about 8oz)
7. 1 cup mayo
8. 1 and 1/2 can of Cream of Chicken (originally it's 1, but bc I make a bigger portion casserole I add that half. Also, you may substitute with Cream of Celery. I use 1 can Cream of Chicken and half can of Cream of Celery)
9. 1 cup shredded cheddar (I love my cheese so I do a couple handfuls and sprinkle more on top as it's almost finished baking)
10. dash of pepper (the recipe says dash of salt too..but really I don't think it needs it! )

• pre heat oven to 350
• you want your rice cooked, chicken cooked and chopped,  and sautee your pepper, onion, and garlic.
• mix all the ingredients in a med/large bowl
• spread into a casserole dish (I use a 9x13 or whatever size is like that)
• bake in over for 25 mins.
• I sprinkle extra cheese on top the last 10 mins. You can also add breadcrumbs to the top if you want extra texture.

I have made this dish a few times and each time was a HIT!!! There are plenty of leftovers, so what I like to do with that (thank you Erin for the idea!) is when I make breakfast, I make an omelet and I put the casserole in the center. Sprinkle a little hot sauce on the finished omelet and voi la! It's so delish.   I know the casserole recipe looks a little large but once you figure it out it's really simple to make with lots of great flavor. YUM  :)

(and ps. the next time I really want to "go there"..I think I will. I started this blog as my online diary. It's raw. It's me. I didn't create this to just sicken people with everything happy happy happy. There are issues in life, and I will put those issues out there. Who knows, I may just get great advice and feedback. But this one time, to prevent stirring up anything..and I don't have the energy to fix whatever probs it MAY cause...I'll just keep my fingers quiet.) Enjoy the casserole!! If there are add ons you made that make it even BETTER..let me know xo

The Platinum Rule

When we were kids (or at least in my case) we were taught to live by the Golden Rule: Treat Others As You Would Like To Be Treated.  I think that's great. I think people who practice that tend to be nicer than others. In most cases. But what about all the other cases? At my old job, we used to have to attend this training day once a year to focus on how to treat and handle customers (it was a job that put big, big importance on customer service) and that is where I heard that the Golden Rule is OUT. Well, what can be better than gold? PLATINUM. The Platinum Rule is in. And basically it goes as:

Don't Just Treat People How You Would Like To Be Treated, Treat Them How THEY Would Like To Be Treated.

I mean, it makes sense right? There are some people who don't mind when people are snarky or sarcastic with them.  In a for-instance, Matt welcomes sarcasm and certain types of humor. So if he followed the Golden Rule then he would be treating me with sarcasm and whatever sense of humor he pleased. But I am not that type of person. Sarcasm has it's time and place as does other types of humor. Okay, getting off topic...this post is NOT about Matt and I have no issues with his sense of humor..just giving a for-instance! But, ya feel me?   Treat people how THEY would like to be treated.   Everyone is different. As is their right. It's what makes a person unique and special.  So, pay attention to your audience. If they don't like dirty jokes...if they don't like people telling them how they should run their family...if they don't like it when you don't use coasters...then it's safe to say everyone will be on good terms if you keep a cleaner mouth (I hear Orbit gum does wonders for a dirty mouth), if you keep your opinion of their family to yourself, and when at their home...use a coaster.  :)

This post was directed at nobody and everybody. I just remembered that lesson from work and decided I really liked it. Food for thought :)  :)

...and Petrie Makes 3!

I mentioned in a previous blog that I was preparing Petrie to make the trek out here to Sacramento. Well, all in all, the move was a success! Petrie is alive and well and adjusting to the Spetz/Kelly household :)

I was most worried about the plane ride. I've never flown an animal before so I wasn't really sure what to expect. But the handlers were very friendly and promised to take care of my Petrie. I thought, "super! I'll just run up to security, get to the gate and get this show on the road". 5 hours...Petrie will be fine for 5 hours. But then I looked at the flight board and saw that the flight was delayed from 6:45pm to now 8:15. Ugh. I headed across the hall to Moe's for a tall beer (I cut off beer since Feb for the wedding, but in this case I needed one lol) and some food since I know United has the worst snack selection. FINALLY, it's time to fly. Luckily I had the extra leg room and I had the row of seats to myself. Bonus!  (Though I will say...I am REALLY disappointed in movie selection...Kung Fu Panda 2..REALLY?! Come on...)  The flight was pretty smooth for the most part. I kept thinking how Petrie must be terrified during take-off and landing, since he is TERRIFIED of thunderstorms. But he survived. :)

Matt picked us up and we came home to a very clean and rearranged apartment! I like the new changes, especially moving the big entertainment center into our bedroom across from our bed. Petrie has a new bed (Matt got him the Orthopedic Foam kind..so sweet!) and new toys. Surprisingly, Petrie has made himself at home and is his perky, barky self! I was worried he would be in a depressed mode for a while..but he's the Peach I know!

So far, he hasn't chewed up anything (knock on wood) and has only  had 1 or 2 accidents. For a dog who is a bit stressed still and in a new home, I don't blame him. Matt takes him for walks first thing in the morning and at night and so far I've taken him out about 3 times during the day. He needs to get out, especially since he doesn't have a yard.

Okayyyyy enough about the dog. The latest big news is...we have Matt's mother visiting us this weekend! She arrived super early this morning..so right now we are all just relaxing in the living room, getting motivated to venture out. Tomorrow we plan on going to Country in the Park...I love country music and cannot wait to go to the concert :)  The Marines will be working it too so it's the perfect feel and vibe to 9-11...lots of honor and pride and rememberance of that devastating day. Hoorah! Never Forget!

Just Lick It and Stick It

For those of you who have been through the whole wedding planning process, you may agree that one of the most irritating steps is the waiting game. The waiting for all the RSVPs!! After SO much time is spent on picking out the right invitations maker, the layout of the card, the colors, the type of ink (in this case I used glitter ink) and the proper way to address people and so on and so on, FINALLY when the company emails me to let me know everything has been addressed and mailed out, I let out a HUGE sigh of relief and excitement took over. YAY! I finally will know who is going to do their best to make it and who can't (for whatever reason they may have). Once the RSVP's come in that's when it's time to let the planner know how many people to charge for plate settings, food, appetizers, alcohol, etc. It also lets my mom and I know just how many favors to order as well as programs. So, until everyone RSVP's everything is on HOLD.

We now have 37 days until THE BIG DAY!!! Woohoo!! Thing is, I just realized that tomorrow is the deadline for letting us know who can go and who cannot. Tomorrow. We have heard from maybe a THIRD of everyone invited. IF THAT! Hopefully many of the RSVP's are in transit and my mom will receive them soon. But for those that are just sitting on someone's counter/kitchen table, not cool! Matt and I spent a pretty penny to include a little RSVP envelope, that is already addressed and stamped (at least I'm 90% sure...maybe it's the actual invitations postage we payed for..hmm), and the RSVP card. Coming to the wedding? Check yes or no. Put it in the envelope. Lick it shut and stick it in the mailbox(if stamp isn't included then it gets two lickits!). Easy. Effortless. I realize people may have let Matt and I know verbally who is going and who isn't, but I already have wayyy to much on my mind to remember to tell my mom (Though ones who gave me a heads up is still appreciated!). I'm not the one keeping track, my mom is. So please, if you are someone who has their RSVP card sitting on their table, go ahead and mail it out! That way I can make sure everyone has a place to sit and eat :)   I gotta get a move on on all this biznaz! Until then, I will be rockin' this waiting game..it's like Christmas every time I hear about an RSVP!  :)   xoxoxo

I Guess I'm One of THOSE Dog Moms

I never knew how stressful it would be to move Petrie out to California! First off, I've been having the BIGGEST guilt issues all summer long. My family ADORES the little guy, especially my dad, and I feel just awful taking him away from them.  I know and they know that Petrie was a gift to ME and that eventually he would be leaving the Spetz Household..but it doesn't make it any less heart breaking for those who are having to say goodbye.

<-- First day I brought Petrie home (Feb 2009)

Then there is the whole "how do I get him out to California without either one of us having major anxiety attacks?"  I thought about waiting for Christmas time, where my family can drive to Louisiana with him to see my grandparents and Matt and I can drive back to CA with him. But then we would have no one to watch him for 3 weeks come wedding time. So in June I bought a direct flight on United, payed for extra leg room (since Petrie will have to sit at my feet) and waited for Sept to come around so I can fly him back with me. Well...while that seemed like a nice plan, it didn't really turn out the way I hoped. We leave tomorrow and I just found out he does NOT fit in the carrier that United provides. I underestimated Petrie's size (my bad). That now means I had to make the tough decision to fly him UNDER the plane. Just the thought of it increases my anxiety. What if it's too hot or cold down there? What if he has breathing issues? What if his little heart gives out from being so scared (I know...I'm exaggerating now)? But I can't SEE him for myself to make sure he is okay. What if the airport people lose him?  SO...I went to Petsmart 3 times for this pup in the last few days.
The first time was to get him checked by his vet to make sure he is healthy and a-okay to jet set. 2nd time my dad and I went to see if there were any carriers that COULD make it in the cabin with me. Negative. So we bought a good sized hard carrier for him to hang out in while he is under the plane.  I went back today to get a little bed to put in the back of it (again, I underestimated the size and doesn't fit..looks like trip 4 will be to return it) and I also got his carrier travel water bowl and food bowl (which I will freeze some water so he can stay hydrated in his flight). I also bought him an actual ID tag. We've never gotten him one in the last 2 1/2 years that we've had him. So now he has a nice gold bone shaped ID tag :)     (2nd Picture is Petrie being the little Devil Dog that he is..this is his first week home..so tiny!)

When I got home I lined his crate with the soft rugs he likes to lay on in the house (so he has familiar smells around him and adds soft comfort) and put his favorite stuffed toys in the back. I put puppy pee pads in the front in case he gets car/air sick.  What else...Oh I will also throw in a couple Busy Bones (his FAVE)  and some Chew-eez (his 2nd fave)  so he doesn't "starve" and I also think it may help with his anxiety. I knew chewing for ME helps.  I notice he gnaws on his arms when he's a little stressed so I want to deter that.

People may thing I'm crazy for going to these lengths and this emotional stress for a dog. My dad would just say "Lauren , he's a DOG. Dogs fly all the time, he will be okay. He will get over his anxiety and by the time you land he will forget he was ever on a plane". This coming from the man who I know parting with Petrie will be the hardest on.  So, I'm trying to take a little of his attitude..but the mommy worry-wart in me still comes out. Don't judge. He's my fur baby. I know he will be okay.  I just feel bad that I'm taking him away from the family that loves him, putting him in a new setting where he is unfamiliar and doesn't have a yard of his own (but he WILL have a balcony he can bark at all the people from..his favorite activity! lol) and then this change of plans with the flying. It's too much all at once.

Maybe Momma will be okay once she takes a Xanax and sips on a glass of wine :)  The in-flight movie better be good. I don't want this cartoon Rio shiznit like they played on my way over. Come on people...let's watch something worth getting INTO and spending this $600+ I payed for my round trip and extra leg room.

Wish us luck!! I'll keep ya posted on Petrie getting settled in. His daddy just went shopping for him so he has lots of goodies awaiting him at the apartment <3