Why I could never...

...live in the Cities for the rest of my life.

Traffic.

You know, in some respects, what they say is true: you get used to it. I have, for the most part. But it's days like today where I realize I would die a slow and painful and bitter death if I knew I had to spend the rest of my life here.

It took me an hour and forty-five minutes to go eleven miles today.

Eleven miles.

Granted, it was a snowstorm. And the plows hadn't been out. And it was already rush hour. But still.

I try not to be one of those freakazoids who spazzes at everyone else on the road for two reasons: (1) it doesn't solve anything, and (2) I once read that people who get worked up about things like that die sooner than people who don't.

I don't want to die young.

Christmas card pictures

ice cream: seven facts

1. I like soft ice cream but I'm impatient, so if it's too hard I microwave it.

2. I prefer chocolate chips over Hershey's chocolate syrup in my ice cream.

3. One of my favorite flavors is tin roof sundae.

4. But plain old homemade vanilla will always win, hands down.

5. I think putting fruit on ice cream is ridiculous.

6. When I have a gallon of ice cream, I eat it every day until it's gone.

7. Then I feel so guilty I don't buy more for another six months.

today at Target

My favorite deals of the day:

Rold Gold pretzels, sale price $2.33
-$1 off Target coupon
Final price $1.33

Planters nuts, 21.25 oz, sale price $5.99
-$1 off Target coupon
Final price $4.99

Oscar Meyer bacon, sale price $3.99
-$0.75 off Target coupon
Final price: $3.24

Nestle chocolate chips, sale price $2.00
-$0.75 off Target coupon
Final price: $1.25

Market Pantry sugar, 5 lb, regular price $2.40
-$1 off Target coupon
Final price: $1.40

Skinny Cow single serve ice cream, regular price $1.24
-$1 off manufacturer's coupon (when you become a fan on Facebook)
Final price: $0.24

HP ream of paper, regular price $4.99
-$5 off Target coupon
Final price: Free

Playtex tampons, 36ct, regular price $7.14
-$5.99 off manufacturer's coupon (you can get these in the mail when you email the company telling them how much you like their product - I haven't paid full price for over a year now)
Final price: $1.15

Oreo's, sale price $2.50, buy two
-$1/2 Target coupon
-$1/1 Oreo WYB one gallon milk manufacturer's coupon
-$1/1 Oreo WYB one gallon milk manufacturer's coupon
Final price: $1 for each package of Oreo's, plus the cost of two gallons of milk

Palmolive dish soap, regular price $2.99
-$1/1 Target coupon
Final price: $1.99

I Can't Believe It's Not Butter, regular price $2.19
-$1/1 Target coupon
Final price: $1.19

Philadelphia Cream Cheese, regular price $1.99
-$1/1 Target (?) coupon
Final price: $0.99

Those were the best coupon deals I got, but I also had a "$5 off your grocery purchase of $50 or more" coupon and a "$10 off a purchase of $100" coupon.

The total value of my coupons was $50.29 and my 5% redcard savings totaled $8.32, which means I saved $58.61, plus $13.55 in sales (according to my receipt), for a total savings of $72.16.

Good deal.

putting it into perspective

It's amazing how quickly I can distract myself from what's really important.

How often I take things for granted.

I knew I was going to gain weight over Thanksgiving. How could I not? What I wasn't prepared for was how tight my pants would feel after only two meals of turkey, mashed potatoes, and gravy.

Immediately I started beating myself up: "How could I gain that much weight in only one day? I'm such a pig. I'm so fat. Don't I have any self-control?"

(The answer, by the way, is no.)

And then I remembered a story I heard not to long ago, about a family with more health problems than you would believe. Cancer, MS, cancer again, brain tumors. You name it, it happened to them.

How can I be so worried, so upset, so caught up in gaining a couple pounds, when there are people out there with real problems?

My weight has always been an issue with me, and I've always been very sensitive about it. But I know I place too much importance on what the scale says. When will I learn to be thankful for what I do have instead of focusing on what I don't?

the best of black friday

I've never been shopping on Black Friday before, so I was a little skeptical when Darren's family wanted to go. Especially since it involved getting up at 2:30 in the morning.

It stays dark out for a loooooong time when you get up at 2:30 in the morning.

In any case, I got a couple things that made it all worthwhile.

I got a crockpot for $15 at Walmart, and also a 40-ish piece set of Rubbermaid Tupperware containers for $9. (I know that Rubbermaid is not the same as Tupperware, but how else would you describe it? I call all containers designed for food Tupperware...)

At Target I got some scarves for $5 and hats and mittens for $2 for a set. I also got a Black & Decker toaster oven for $20, which I'm WAY excited about.

Darren got a gun, so he was happy too.

Consensus: We will probably be going again next year.

Why I Love...

...Army wives.

No, not the TV show. I mean real-life Army wives.

I first met these lovely ladies in June of 2007, and it's strange to me now that there was ever a time I didn't know them. They understand me like no one else in the entire world.

We took this picture October 15, 2007, the day our men came home from Iraq. Darren and I weren't married yet - we weren't even engaged - so it was through Courtney and Krista that I first learned what it meant to be an Army wife.


And no one could have ever had two more excellent role models. Not too long ago I thought I was going to have to live through another deployment, only this time as a wife instead of just a girlfriend. And I knew no one would understand my fears and frustrations better than these two women.

Fortunately, Darren decided not to volunteer.

Last month, on October 16, 2010 (almost three years to the day the guys came home) we took this picture. When I first saw it I couldn't believe how much it reminded me of the picture we took the day of the Welcome Home Ceremony.

But yet so different. Darren and I are now married. Krista's little girl (who was being held by Courtney in the above picture) is now an adorable three year old. Courtney is holding her own baby girl, her second child.



Over the past three years I have come to love these women like sisters. I know I can talk to them about anything, and do. We have such a special bond, and no one understands my periodic frustrations with Army life like these two.

Courtney and Krista, thanks for always being there. I love you both more than I can express.