Embarking on a wild ride

well, it's been a 7+ year journey but I've finally figured out what I want to be when I "grow up" I've been thinking a lot about when BD gets out and the job he wants does pay good...for us, but maybe its losing the 'security' of the Army that lights a fire under me? I want to get my degree while I'm still an Army wife so that I can use the MYCAA program, and although I love being home with my kids, it isn't what I want to do for the rest of my life. Once my kids are in school I am not going to sit home and twiddle my thumbs. I want a job, a career.
I am going back to school to become a Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer. In laymans terms, a sonogram technician. I still need to figure out what areas I am going study the most in (ie: pregnancy, brain, stomach, ect) I plan to pick a couple different areas to study so that it helps my chances of getting a job.
I Never ever thought I'd want to do anything in the medical field. I just don't do goo or fluids, but this feels right. Ya know that feeling deep down where you know you are doing what's right..ya, that one. plus..scrubs are -really- cute! ha
It amazes me that you can take a little wand and look inside somebody. When I was pregnant I was so awed to check out the machines and I watched like a hawk to see if I could make out any of the symbols/signs ect, not bc I was necessarily worried about my babies but because it was cool!
I am so so excited! I can't wait to start school. I can't wait to learn all about it. I am checking into colleges and facts on the job and everything looks promising. Projected job growth is good, pay is good and this is a job I can do anywhere. I am so excited to start this new chapter in my life. I am scared though, really...really...scared! lol It's been soo long since I have been in school. And all those subjects that make people cringe, anatomy, physiology, physics, I will be taking. lol I always did pick the hardest road possible. :-) Maybe it's so that I can watch myself succeed time and time again.
At the current time I plan to just get my associates so that when BD gets out in 2years I will be able to get a job if I need too, if not, I will go for my bachelors, providing financing comes through, ect. Heck, maybe I'll even go for my Doctorate *totally just kidding........I dont like school that much!*

Thank you to my husband for supporting me 1,000% on this journey. Thank you for providing for me the last 5 years. Thank you for never pressuring me to get a job or go to school. Thank you for always encouraging me in all I do. Thank you for accepting me just as I am right now, a little stay at home mom. Thank you for believing in me, beliving in my 'smarts' even as a stay at home mom. Thank you for being my Prince Charming. The only way I'll succeed on this journey is through your support, so thank you!!

To my parents: thank you so much for your constant love and support. Thank you for never pressuring me into college. Some of the best advice I recieved from my mom was to not go to college unless you know forsure what you want to do, because then you end up spending lots of money and time trying to figure it out. Thank you for never saying "you need to go to college" You knew that when I was ready, I'd do it.
Thank you for having the wisdom to know that 6 years ago I didn't know what I wanted and if I had gone to school I woulda majored in something that at this point in my life I wouldn't enjoy. Then would go back to school spending more time/money..or I woulda just been unhappy. Thank you for allowing me to find my Prince Charming and have my Princesses first and then pursue college, if I wanted.

This will be a wild ride. I excited, scared, nervous, happy. It will be extremely hard, but I want to succeed. I wanna pull off a 4.0!
now, if you'll excuse me, it's time for me to go buy my colored pencils and Strawberry Shortcake lunch box! woohoo!!!!!!!

money, money, money

So I'm thinking more and more about saving money and being frugal. When BD gets out we will most likely take a paycut for at least the first year he's in the Academy and the Force so I'm thinking more and more about saving money and living smart.
I've started line drying, yes..I know..How very Little House on the Prarie, but comeon, I've gotta use the 106 degree heat to some sort of advantage. I keep our big double front windows closed with new fangle energy saving Curtains, which is really really hard for me. I hate being inside and having no way to look outside, I get almost clasutrophobic. I'm also starting to look at coupons more. I wish they had coupons for veggies, meat, and fruits. I buy very litle packaged products and I refuse to buy a product I don't normally buy just so that I can say I used a coupon because in the end I'm still spending more, unless that product is free. I spend approx $150-$175 every 2 weeks on groceries and that includes diapers/wipes/laundry detergent, ect.
I also called our electric company to see if they could get us a lower rate and sure enough they did!
I also have a Khols card *gasp* When the girls need clothes I wait for a sale, which they have pretty reguarly and then using my card I also get another 15-30% off my total. I've walked outta there spending $100 but saving $180 for all the clothes we need. Then I pay it off the next month.
We rarely go out to eat when BD is home...we almost NEVER go to a sitdown resteraunt, unless we have a gift card, and we only eat out at other places 2.. -maybe- 3 times a week. When BD is gone I dont eat out much at all, even fast food, because its just too much work to get both kids in the car, go get something, come back, unload everything and then eat. Just too much work to justify it for me. If we're out and runnin behind and hungry then ya we pick up somethin, but other than that..not normally. This actually has less to do with money and more to do with my lazyness. lol
We don't buy soda for the house but thats just because if we have it, I'll drink it and I dont need to drink Dr Pepper all day. ha

So...Lemme have it, Tell me your best frugal/money saving ideas!

Ps: I do NOT do cloth diapering...somethin about scrapin poo off a diaper just makes me whiggie..although I do have to admit some of those cloth diapers are REALLY cute! but lana will hopefully be outta diapers soon so we'll just have to wait and see if I change my mind on the next baby.

Time

So, this week's weight loss did NOT go good. it bombed..failed...hey, at least I didnt gain anything. I did stay right where I was last week, which is good, I guess. But, I've been given a gift, the gift of time! Time to do better next week.
Time is a funny thing, it either goes too fast or too slow. It seems like time never cooperates with us huh? But time does not stop, no matter how much it feels like time is at a standstill, it isn't.
I know every military wife has heard the phrase "at the end of everyday you are one day closer to being with your spouse again" well, think about it for a minute, really let it sink it. Tomorrow I am one day closer to having my husband/wife home. Isn't that an amazing thought?! Yes I've heard it thousands of times before but when I really let it sink in and really thought about it, I was like wow! cool!! I don't know about you but being a temporary single mom my days fly by. Even days that I dont have anything going on it's hectic. Someone will get sick, they'll fight all day, something unexpected will come up, meses will be made all day long causing me to have to clean up said mess and chase said mess maker.
Cherish each day. I promise you if you spend each and every day wallowing in pity and sadness you're days WILL seem like they are dragging. But when you get up, get busy, become involved, whether its with FRG, volunteering, seeing family, whatever, Time will go faster. Ya know the old saying "Time flys when you're having fun!"
Make the best out of your situation. I get to spend wonderful quality time with my girls at the moment, it's like a girls night EVERY night. okay, ya, I'm exausted, they fight, I scold them, time outs, tandrums, drama, but..aren't we supposed to look at the bright side? or at least try to find one?
Yes, I am sad that BD won't be at Lillias 3rd bday...but, Lillia gets a chance to see her grandparents and spend quality time with them, I get the wonderful gift of help that I don't get often, I get to leave our mutts here and not have to worry about them, I get the chance to visit where I grew up again. Next year Lillia may not be spending her bday with her grandparents so this is a wonderful opportunity for her. see...The bright side!
now, If you'll excuse me I'm going to follow my own advice and go spend some time with some family for, as Lillia says, "Cousin Nessie's birfday party, SWIMMIN TIME!!!" lol Yes, I could be sad bc my husband isnt there with me and I still havent figured out how I'm going to properly watch 2 kids in a pool, but I'm not going to think about that, I'm going to think positive!

Later!

Hello August

Well, August is finally here. Last month I did really well on my goals. Lost the poundage I wanted to, plus 3 more. I hope to lose 7lbs this month.
This month will be a busy one. Birthday parties, birthdays *apparently everybody in my family chose August to be born*, a trip, and the most important birthday of all, My Lilibug will be 3!!! It will be a bittersweet birthday as daddy is away but Im trying my hardest to make it perfect for her. We are going back to Ks to celebrate and shes requested a Princess birthday party and Princess she's getting.
I also have gotten myself in quite the prediciment with Lillia. She was sleeping perfectly *8pm-7am* before BD left then BD left and she was thrown off and was waking up a lot sooo in the interest of sleep that we all needed I started the "milk cycle" milk always makes her fall asleep. Welll, now she's getting up 3 times a night for milk. I realize I was stupid to even start it but at that point I just needed to survive. If I don't give in to the milk she throws a royal tantrum, if she throws a royal tantrum then she wakes up her sister as they share a room. Sooo as of tonight Miss Lillia is camping in the toyroom and not getting milk and we will kick this habit. I need to sleep. I need consistant sleep for more than 3 hrs at a time *no exaggeration, I'm up every 3 hours* not to mention shes costing me a fortune drinking milk all night, as she's on soy.
Just so you can share in my misery, heres a rundown of my nights.
I go to bed between 10 and 11, usually closer to 10, she wakes up around midnight, back to bed, she's up around 2, 2:30 again, back to bed, then shes up again between 4-5:30, then back to bed *Hopefully..we pray that happens* then up for the day around 6-6:30, but shes not really rested because she's a grump all day
I...Am...Exausted. So I hope this is a quick, painless process. Every morning I must save the world all by myself and a Super Hero has to sleep.

So..if ya pray, please say a quick one that my child will kick the crack *aka, milk* and sleep all night once again.

Thank God I'm not a Dude

So this morning I played Dude. I mowed the front yard and decided to try to conquer the weedeater once again *refer to previous blog* and I'm so proud! I did it for like...30 seconds. One whole side of our fence is somewhat better looking. I consider that a huge accomplishment, then I had to stop and check on the kids, as they went missing, (They ended up inside raiding the Goldfish crackers) then I went back out and the stupid thing wouldn't start again, so I gave up. Not worth it. I will just hire someone to come do it.
I, then, got on some sort of tangent and decide to trim all our bushes and our tree in the front yard. While doing that I got annoyed with our 1/2 broken trelles and decided to take that down, along with the pretty pink flower vine thing that grows on it, while it is pretty, it attracts bees and I can't really have bees dive bombing my front porch. So there I was, one foot on a chair, one foot on the porch railing in a very unlady like position unscrewing the last screw *I really shoulda just got a ladder* and Mr. Bee decides to come buzzin around and I start to whig out. Ya know how if you holler at a dog it'll go away........That doesn't work with a bee, it went something like this "AH..go away..WAAHOO *I almost fell there* AH GOOO away!! WAAHOOO *Almost fell again*"...but I successfully took that down and drug it to the curb.
All that was left was the back yard. yaaa about 1/2 of that got done before it just got too hot and I whimped out. lol

Now, people may think strangers and such dont bother me bc of my 2 big dogs...ya, no..they don't bother me bc they see me doing such things as I did above and they think I'm CRAZY! lol

But, if anyone wants a laugh just bring a lawn chair and park it across the street with a cold drink and watch me do yard work. Me trying to move a 7ft tall trelles was quite humerous. Just imagine........I dare ya. :-)

Thank God I'm not a dude! and honey, I'm sorry I fell so in love with such a big yard. Arizona with rock yards are looking really good at the moment!

Who doesn't love a new recipe?

So, who doesn't love some new recipes. I thought I'd share a few of my go-to recipes.

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Mushroom chicken: This is my 1st go to..its SUPER easy and yummy! I've even made it for company.

1 can cream of mushroom soup
4 chicken breasts *i adjust the amount of chicken and soup to how many people I have, for the 4 of us, i usually do 4-5 chicken breasts and 2 cans of soup, but I like it with lots of 'gravy'*

Cut up the chicken and put in skillet, dump soup on top *yup, straight from the can* and let cook until chicken is done, about 20-30 minutes. stirring occasionally I serve this with rice or pasta and a veggie.

I've also made this with Cream of chicken soup and Cheddar cheese soup *condensed* and both were also really good!

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BBQ.......meat

Ive done this with pork, chicken or a roast.

Put meat in crockpot and I add approx 1-2 cups of broth *chicken, beef, veggie, doesnt really matter* Let cook all day on Low (8hrs) Take meat out and let rest 15 mins or so, then shred with a fork, put back in crockpot and dump BBQ sauce on top, stir, let cook another lil bit *until you feel its good*
Serve on buns. I also have cheese, onion, pickles, tomatoes to put on top

It really is a GOOD bbq sandwich!

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This is my newest Go-to...Thanks to Miss April!

Redbeans and Rice

Fry 3 slices of bacon-crispy, saute onion and garlic in the same pan with a bit of the drippings. Add chopped smoked sausage *If you want it* into same pan, I also added the chopped up bacon, 1 can of tomatoes *I used diced*, 1 can redbeans, 1 can cannellini beans, salt, pepper, oregano, chili powder, and a little lime juice (I used 2 fresh key limes and it was perfect). Let simmer for 20 mins while rice is cooking.
Serve beans over top of rice or mix together, however you like it.

ok, sure, it isnt original, but, it was really really good. And I only had a skillet, cutting board, knife and rice pan to wash. And I was able to cook it while I had a toddler screaming at my leg...thats a winner in my book

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Mushroom porkchops

However many porkchops ya want *boneless, with the bone, doesnt matter*
a Lg can cream of mushroom soup *ya, I use it a lot*

stick porkchops in a baking dish, dump on the soup, sometimes if i wanna get snazzy I add mushrooms on top too, then just bake 350 until porkchops are done. around 30 mins for thinner chops.
Lots of times I'll put seasonings on the porkchops before i add the soup. salt, pepper, garlic, adobo, whatever I can find and sounds good.

I always serve these with sticky rice. mmmmmm

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Fried Rice

now, this does take awhile to cook, but, it's a pretty good fried rice.

Big container of leftover *chilled overnight* cooked rice *probably 4-5 cups*
carrots
onion
sometimes Ill scramble an egg
mushrooms
Frozen mixed veggies
whatever kind of veggie you can find in your fridge, toss it in. Chop up all veggies into small pieces. If im trying to save time I will cut everything up during the kids naptime then once dinner time comes I just have to dump it all in

Heat oil (you'll want quite a bit) in wok or lg. skillet *I use a lg wok* until really hot. Dump in your rice and all the veggies, ect. I put in some teriyake sauce and soy sauce *i just glug until it feels right...probably 2-3 Tbs of each. minced garlic, pepper, whatever else strikes my fancy.
Then just cook it, stirring often, until it looks like a fried rice 'color' I usually let it cook a good 30 minutes, stirring a lot or else it sticks.

Also made this for company and I dont think I've ever had much or any leftovers


ENJOY!

So, I'll be honest, I've lost count already as to how many week in we are, but thats okay because time goes faster if I'm not counting. I have a round about idea but I'm not 100% sure. Time got away from me, things happened and I lost count.
One of the hardest things about being a parent is that you hurt when your kids hurt. It's heart wrenching when your daughter cries everyday for her daddy and theres not a thing I can do about it. It breaks my heart, and it makes me angry because this deployment was not supposed to happen and no, I'm not being bratty and dramatic about how unfair it is and it shouldn't happen. The truth is, it -wasn't- supposed to happen, but someone got all hooah-happy and pushed things up and by doing that caused a heap of stupidity over there not to mention a heap of stupidity here. I can't get into specifics but this is my 3rd deployment and I'm amazed at some of the things I've seen and heard about. It would make your mouth drop.
I believe everything happens for a reason and everything I go through can teach me something, I cannot for the life of me figure out what the reason for this deployment is, except that it's hurting my daughter, it's hurting my husband because he can't be here for his kids and its hurting me. I thank God that lil miss doesn't have too much of an idea yet what is going on bc I don't think I could handle 2 kids crying for their daddy everyday.
Another thing that has started......The rumors...How far into the back of my head can I roll my eyes? lol Specificially, the Big Rumor..When they're going to be home. O........M.......G...dear Lord people we're less than 2 months in *that I do know! ha* Here's a tip for the newbies, Don't get excited if this rumor is a good one, bc I guarentee that next week there will be a rumor that they are staying 5 extra months and you'll get all upset and, let's face it, thats waayyy too much emotional stress..lol Yes, they are nice to hear, yes, they can be nice to think about but thats as far as I let it go. I start getting a little bit excited when their replacements get there and then you can really get excited when Rear D gives ya that special call......no, wait, nevermind, I don't even trust Rear D...lol, I kid, but seriously though last time they called and told me BD would be home the next day and well, they were wrong. BD called soon after and Im smart enough to realize that if he's at Point A, he can't get to Point B in less than 12 hours, unless he's superman. lol Luckily one of BD's friends was on rear and was able to confirm that I was correct in my assumption. Kinda funny looking back, I had 2 or 3 people calling me apologizing, stuttering over themselves, haha, They're just lucky I caught their mistake and didn't show up to that field and he wasnt there.. ooooooooo lol Get excited when he's in your Arms and until then just keep pluggin along, I promise, it doesn't last forever!