Patriot Surplus Give Away!

Yes my friends, it is GIVE AWAY TIME! So excited! I love when people contact me to host give aways for them, it makes me feel uber special about this little blog of mine. Today I am giving away a $25 Gift Certificate to PatriotSurplus.com!

What is Patriot Surplus?



Patriot Surplus was founded in 2004 by a former US Marine named Steve Berg in Pennsylvania. They started small and grew to a large warehouse at 15 N. Hanover St. in Carlisle, Pennsylvania and welcome you all to stop in if you are in the area! What do they have? Almost anything military related you can ask for! Everything from boats to coats to uniforms to keychains, you can find it on Steve's site. They are also have great customer service policies... check this out from their site:

"You may return any item within 30 days of the invoice date for credit to your account, exchanges or adjustment. As long as it is still in new condition with all tags intact, we'll be happy to help you out. You may return any of our name brand boots for up to 365 days. That's a year folks. As long as the boots are unworn and all packaging is still intact, we'll gladly help you exchange or return your boots for credit. We know what it is like to be deployed and unable to get access to a phone or computer."

Sounds good to me!

They are also huge privacy advocates and will never give your information away or spam you.

When I received the email about the giveaway I decided to explore on my own. My husband, Mr. Romantic himself, asked me for socks for Valentine's Day. When I explained my protest he replied, "They're for work and like $5 a pair! I need them!" Ok! I found just what he needed on the site for $3.95 a pair... a bargain! My husband has a whole bunch of socks coming his way, cushioned soles included.



They include free shipping on any orders over $79.00 and even ship to APO/FPO addresses. Be sure to check out their site and explore around.


Want to Win?

Please make sure your email is linked to your name or leave your email in the comments!

Mandatory entries:
Follow my blog with GFC
Leave a comment telling me what would you buy from PatriotSurplus.com if you win and that you follow me!

Additional Entries: (Please do as separate comments!)
Like Patriot Surplus on Facebook
Follow them on Twitter
Comment on a blog post from their site
Do your own blog entry promoting this give away - two entries (please do 2 comments!)

Notes:
Gift certificate expiration Date: July 30, 2012
The coupon code can only be used once. It does not cover shipping or taxes.

This give away will be open until noon (EST) on Friday February 3, 2012. Winners will be announced Friday afternoon/evening.

Good luck!




(Note: I was not compensated for this entry, all opinions are strictly my own. I ordered the socks on my own accord! I was provided a gift certificate/code as a prize to give to the winner of the give away but this did not effect my opinion of the site.)

Fill in the Blank Friday

I LOVE to travel, so when I saw this Fill in the Blank Friday, I honestly could not resist!


1. My favorite place I've ever travelled to is a toss up between Venice Italy and Stratford-Upon-Avon England.


Enjoying a Bellini... yum! And yes, I had my nose pierced all of college :P


With my friends studying abroad for Shakespeare in Performance

2. Ireland (not just Dublin), Poland, Africa, Chile, Costa Rica, Maldives, and New Zealand are places I would love to visit one day!

3. I pass the time on transportation usually reading a book or if it is too rough of a ride listening to music or talking to people.

4. My three must haves when I travel are most definitely my camera, chapstick, and a small notebook to write everything down I have seen or done. My Australia travel diary is pretty awesome!

5. My favorite travel companion is Ryan obviously, but we have yet to go out of the country together. Going out of the country the best was Sam when we went through Europe with our Girl Scout Troop!

6. The craziest thing that's ever happened to me whilst travelling is When I was studying art and history in the Mediterranean and we stopped at this rest stop in Greece. It was literally the only building in this valley in the middle of two mountains. A lot of people were 'bus sick' but I was ok. We had lunch and I ran to the rest room to come out and find my bus GONE. I was left behind! Another bus load of Brits were there and their bus driver contacted his company who contacted my bus driver's company who got my driver. They were back half an hour later luckily as my passport, luggage and everything except what was in my purse was on the bus! I told my professors "No more ouzzo at lunch" and was glad I did not get traded for a camel... the Brits were going to Turkey next and said I would earn at least that if I went along and got traded!


Crete <3

7. The most exotic food I've ever tried whilst travelling is crocodile chowder or Prairie oysters in Australia.


8. If I could live anywhere else, I would live in Italy. Hands down. Or Australia.

9. I have been to 18 states in the U.S. Plus one territory (St Croix). I need to get to the middle a bit still....




Check out the Places I want to go and the Places I have Been on Pintrest! I also may have a slight obsession with Tuscany.

Well, She's Not Boring

Life with Rylie will certainly never be boring.

Last night Carrie and I went to do laundry and Adam kept an eye on Rylie for me. Well she was bad with Adam having not one but TWO accidents in his apartment (mind you it has been a long time since she has peed in mine). Mortified Mommy. Adam said it was no big deal but I still felt awful. Plus at the vet the other night she got a deworming dose and of course that night I notice she had a worm :( The vet said since she JUST had a dose it was fine, but if in a day or two I still saw them to bring her in.

Eww.

Well Carrie and I get home pretty late from laundry so Rylie is chilling unsupervised (I am trying in SMALL doses here) in the living room. As I get the last clothes put away I hear a CRASH, almost like dishes falling. Well I use paper plates most nights when it just me so I was very confused on the sound. I step into the living room in time to see Rylie speed by me and fly into the bedroom. She won't even look at me.

Uh oh.



SOMEONE climbed on the table and pulled the Scentsy down. Normally I don't have it on when she is in the apartment having free reign but silly me turned it on before going to do laundry and forgot to turn it off. Sigh. Hot Welcome Home scented wax all over my wooden floor. And wall. And lamp.

I get a scrubby sponge from the kitchen and begin to try and remove it when I realize Rylie has not left the bedroom yet. I go check on her and I see my puppy is half purple. Apparently some of it got her on the way down so her back side, back paws and tail were purple. PURPLE. And waxy. So I abandon my scrubbing and try to get it off her with my hands. No dice. I get out the brush and did a little better but not enough.

So into the tub pup pup goes. She did better this time but she kept drinking the water! I usually do not give her water after 8 or so as it prevents her from waking up in the middle of the night. Here she is drinking gross, waxy, soapy bathwater! Ugh! I tried to hold her head up but I couldn't do that and scrub her and brush her at the same time. Between the shampoo, washcloth and brush I got most of it off. She only has slightly faint purple looking fur on the back and a few dots on her legs I couldn't get off.

I toweled her off and blow dried her as much as she'd let me and then took her on a LONG walk outside. It is after 11 at this point. Then I showered since I smelled like wet puppy and passed out in my bed near midnight. Just as I started to doze the husband called a little after midnight. Needless to say we just said good night instead of our usual phone call.

Sigh indeed.

Rylie pup... you make my life interesting if nothing else!

Lucky

This entry may be a little deep... you may not like it. That's ok. But with all the bullying appearing in the news daily I had to get some of it out. Maybe it will help someone, maybe not. I worked on it for days and debated publishing it... But it is my story regardless so I will.



Some days I cannot believe how lucky I am.


I cannot believe how lucky I am to have Ryan as my husband and in my life. To have someone love me so much and so unconditionally and to feel the same in return. I will see it in the look in his eyes when I catch him staring at me and hear it when he tells me good night and sweet dreams. From his text messages telling me good morning to the jokes he knows will brighten my sour mood. I cannot believe how blessed I am to have found the love of my life at a relatively young age and to be happily married (even if we are currently 3,000 miles apart)!

Well work today was a little slow and I had a lot of time to think. I saw lots of news stories, cyber bullying being a big topic lately. It made me think back to my time in high school. How can I put this delicately?



I was a total loser.


I really was. Middle school was worse believe it or not, I was teased and picked on and bullied, especially in my younger years. I was always a bit of a loner, I loved to read and I was definitely one to have one or two close friends. I wasn't popular by any means. I remember in middle school some of the "popular kids" got ahold of my AIM screen name and began an early onslaught of cyber bullying. They'd pretend to be the 'cute guy' in our class and get me to admit I liked him and then show him the chat and make fun of me. Or Mean Girl A would pretend Mean Girl B had been mean to her so I could say, "Yes, she is mean to me too, I don't like her." and Mean Girl B had been sitting there all along and could jump in and call me a bitch for "not liking her". Seems harmless and petty but when you're 12 or 13 they make you sob for hours. My face is still burning at the thought.

Even when I was in elementary school I cannot tell you how many times I ate lunch alone. It was humiliating. Popular kids made fun of me and I felt like I was under a magnifying glass. Even at summer camp it happened as some of those same kids went to the one camp in the area I went to.... it had bus transportation and lasted all day for kids whose parents worked. I once had my mom let me bring in my pet bunny to share in Nature Class. All the kids on the bus started saying things like I ate rabbits and I was a monster and my hair was really made out of wood shavings... and with that last part they would pull and yank on my hair as they said it. One younger girl did it so hard she ripped out a chunk of my hair, which was agony. So when I shoved her away and she began to cry the bus driver yelled at me for making a girl a year younger than me upset. With her crocodile tears and a huge chunk of my hair on the floor they didn't believe me.

High school was better scarily enough. I found my theatre school where I went every morning and made lasting and amazing friendships with wonderful people. I ignored the kids who tortured me throughout middle school and elementary school and slowly found my footing. I tried sports and did theatre and made friends in upper and lower grades and in my theatre school. I had people to eat lunch with, to hang out at the movies on Friday... but every now and then the snide remarks came back.

Loser. Freak. Weirdo. Fatso. I heard a lot of them.

I nearly reached my breaking point once. I got into some stupid behaviors (no not drugs, but I will leave it at that) and luckily my family was able to pull me out of it, smack me upside the head (gently) and set me on my way again. I am ashamed when I think of that part of my teen years. Selfish behavior hurts more than just you. I know that now.

I found faith and comfort at church... until I had my first boyfriend. It got rocky after that (basically he wanted me to do things I was not ready to do and dumped me when I wouldn't) as he started dating a friend of mine in youth group and I felt ridiculously uncomfortable for awhile. But I got over it. My faith kept me coming back and I still get so calm when I go to church.

After that one boyfriend in my early high school years (I was a freshman and he was a junior) I did not date in my high school. I had a few flings on vacation or when I went to a random club teen night with my best friend... but that was it. My reputation as that loser and how I was treated made me have zero romantic interest in high school.

College I definitely came into my own. I had friends and more hook ups, but no relationships. I didn't really want to admit my history to any guys I briefly hung out with and let's face it, being a theatre major did not throw me in with tons of straight eligable men!! Ironically the ONE girl who came from my high school to college with me was one of the worst offenders when I was little. We ended up on the same floor of the same dorm freshman year. I panicked, my fresh start may get ruined from the start.... but it didn't. I stopped letting it bother me. Aside from seeing her once or twice in the community bathroom I ignored her. She tried to talk to me once and I was polite but indifferent. I guess being far from home and seeing a familair face made her think we could suddenly magically be friends.... no thank you.

College was wonderful, that fact aside. I went through my few first years only getting a little jealous when I saw lovey dovey couples. I was way behind in experience and just not sure of myself. It probably was just not meant for me. For years I thought I would end up alone. I did. I would never find love, I would just go through life single and be fine with it. Mostly.

Then Ryan walked into my life. Literally he strolled right up to me at a Saint Patrick's Day party and asked me where I got the shamrock that I had painted on my cheek from. Guys that gorgeous didn't talk to me, so I thought he really wanted to know and pointed him towards the living room! Luckily he was persistant, I was so oblivious to a pick up attempt he could have honestly just walked off. But he didn't.

I cannot believe I ended up with an amazing man like my husband. He heard about my past, my experiences (or lack thereof) and embraced it all. Ironically I know he was the exact opposite in school... a popular, good looking social butterfly. (He'd never admit it that way, but I learned it over time :P) If we had been in the same high school the odds of him looking at me would have been zero. He would probably tell you otherwise but I think it would have been that way.

But I am so blessed. I never believed something like that could happen to me... that someone so gorgeous, kind, smart and amazing would even look at me twice let alone fall in love with me. I honestly believe I went from Loser to Lucky. I haven't felt like a true Loser in a long time. Ryan gave me self confidence and taught me to believe in myself more than anyone else in this world. He showed me I can be beautiful, smart, funny and make wonderful friends. Ryan helped me become the Allie I was supposed to be.

Sometimes on facebook a tormentor, (as a friend of a friend) will pop up on my newsfeed... still living at home, single, and hanging out in the same places they hung out in high school, and I can't help but feel a teeny tiny bit smug. I went on to bigger and better things that they told me I never would. I left high school behind and felt no desire to look back. I did not peak there. My life will always be an upward climb... I will never hit my peak. Every day is better than the last and will continue to be.




If you read it all, thank you. If anyone randomly stumbles across this through a google search with bullying or whatever.... life can change. It can take you places you never thought you would be. Amazing people exist in this world, just like some awful ones do. It gets better. Hold your head up, keep breathing, have faith.

Q & A

Erika from Chambanachik tagged me in this Q and A. I cannot resist a survey or questionnaire, it is like a disease I swear, so Erica totally picked the right lady! I hope the ladies I tag will reply as well!


The Rules
1. You must post the rules (and link up who tagged you).
2. Post eleven fun facts about yourself on the blog post.
3. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post, and then create eleven new questions to ask the people you've tagged.
4. Tag however many people you want
5. Let them know you've tagged them!

11 Facts About Me
1. I love love LOVE to travel and my goal is to set foot in each continent at least once before I die.
2. I absolutely hate talking on the phone, I always have... ironically I now do it for a living AND it is my main form of communication with my husband. Typical.
3. If I could perform Shakespeare the rest of my life I'd be one happy lady.
4. Sometimes I wish I could go back to school to become a pastry chef. Couple that with my theatre degree and I am destined to never make any money. Ever.
5. When I am depressed I will eat nutella out of the jar. With a tablespoon.
6. I am a crazy fast reader, I can't help it. I devour books and will read and reread the ones I really like.
7. One day I will own a pair of Monolos. Fact.
8. My weakness is shoes, but I rarely wear heels for more than ten minutes without pain. Shame.
9. Since before I was born basically I have been a Giants fan (and the Yankees!). There are pictures of me in Giants onesies looking almost like a little boy! So I am a life long fan and will want to hit you in the face if you call me a front runner.
10. If I forget to wear my rings I feel downright naked. Besides my wedding band it is my engagement ring and my college ring. Every day a must!
11. When I was little I was convinced I was going to be a famous actress. No questions asked. I miss that invincible, confident, powerful feeling.

Erika's Questions for Me
(plus a bonus one!)

1. What is something you're known for?
My pintrest addiction or my cornbread recipe probably!

2. What dessert would you make for me if I came for a visit?
I'd make my mom's walnut crumb bars... chocolate, walnuts and heaven in a bar!

3. If you could have any animal for a pet, what would you pick?
A giraffe. Hands down they are my favorite animals!

3a. Where do you see yourself in 50 years?
Sitting on a rocking chair next to my handsome old fox of a husband watching our grandchildren run amok.... with my Oscar in the display case behind us :P

4. What was the best day of your life so far?
Ooh tough call. I know most people say their wedding day, and that was definitely up there, but my first favorite was a day on our honeymoon. We went outdoor sky diving over a huge fan, explored the Biltmore Estate and sat on the porch of my parents' cabin drinking wine and chatting all night. It was just perfect.

5. What kind of things do you do every single day, without fail?
Walk Rylie, text Ryan, call Ryan to say good night, play with my iphone and drink diet coke!

6. What subject do you know more about than most people?
Shakespeare. And movie trivia.

7. What would be your perfect date night?
My favorite date night is always dinner and a movie, simple and traditional but it works well for us!

8. Where is your favorite place to be?
With my husband and my family is first followed by onstage.

9. What is something valuable you've learned from your mom and/or dad?
Just one thing? I learned soooo much from them. To be a strong, independant woman who can think for her self. To love and trust, to learn and make mistakes and not let them drag me down. Everything from how to drive to how to cook and bake and change a flat tire. I may owe them quite a bit ;)

10. What color do you like to wear the most?
I hate to say it but.... black. Blue is a close second. I am wearing a black sweater today even. Let's just say years of being a theatre kid made old habits die hard.

11. What did you want to be when you grew up? (And are you there yet?)
An actress. I was that kid who never let go of their childhood fantasy job. Sadly, I am not there yet. Yet. Anyone want to cast me? I'm looking at you Mr. Spielberg.

My Questions for Tagged Friends
1. If you had to eat one thing for breakfast for the rest of your life, what would it be?
2. What is the one chore you despise doing?
3. Are there any books you can pick up and reread over and over again?
4. Who would play you in the movie of your life?
5. If you had to rename your blog for any reason what would be its new name?
6. What is your favorite outfit to wear?
7. If I gave you $100 what completely non practical thing would you spend it on?
8. What is your favorite childhood memory?
9. If you could be an instant expert in any subject matter, what would you choose?
10. What is your favorite joke?
11. Where in the world is Carmen San Diego?

Tag! You're It!
1. Liv at Simply Sunshine and Daisies
2. Mrs. Sykes at Forever Yours Semper Fi
3. Mandy at Mommy Musings
4. Skinnie at Skinnie Piggie
5. Nicole at Flip Flops and Combat Boots
6. Poekitten at Many Waters
7. Erin at Moore to Love
8. Sarah at G.I. Joe's Wife
9. Katie at Like Sunshine After Rain
10. Beckie at Turn for the Nurse
11. Ashley at Celebrating Life as an Army Wife

I'm excited to see your responses!! Happy Monday!

Small World

Everyone will always tell you it is a small world. Since I have been married to Ryan I have heard it is an even smaller Marine Corps. Someone will always know someone or have been stationed with someone you knew. This week that really rang true with me.

I am sure most people have heard about the six Marines stationed in Hawaii killed in the helicopter crash in Afghanistan. One of them was from New Jersey. I did not know him personally but we had mutual friends... I discovered this on Facebook. Cpl Kevin Reinhard went to the all boys Catholic high school near me and graduated high school the same year I did. I went to middle school with some of his classmates. He went to college in NJ with some of my friends from my younger years.

Seeing that made me cry. I can't lie.

I also got angry.

When I first heard about the crash it was a thirty second blip on tv on CNN. They were barely mentioned. Yet when Marines are found doing unsavory things, like the urinating on dead bodies, you hear about it non stop. Why are those who gave their lives for their country just a blip? Why are they a small link on the fifth page on the AOL homepage when the bad story is on the front page with a huge picture?

I know the bad news always takes priority in anything. The evils of the world always seem to make bigger headlines than the poignant stories that people should be more aware of. I was telling this to Ryan last night and he was very matter of fact about it. They don't do what they do for a pat on the back or thanks and honor and glory. They do it for a higher calling, because they think it is the right thing to do. If they wanted a job with that level of praise they were in the wrong career field. He never expects anyone to thank him, and in fact it surprises him when they do. He is incredibly humble, I've seen it.

Yet if we are at a rest stop and a WWII vet or a Vietnam vet is wearing a hat or jacket saying so, my husband will be the first to shake their hand and say thank you. I am trying to get better at that too.

Thank you to Captain Daniel B. Bartle, 27, of Ferndale, Washington; Captain Nathan R. McHone, 29, of Crystal Lake, Illinois; Master Sergeant Travis W. Riddick, 40, of Centerville, Iowa; Corporal Jesse W. Stites, 23 of North Beach Maryland, Corporal Kevin J. Reinhard, 25, of Colonia, New Jersey; and Corporal Joseph D. Logan, 22, of Willis, Texas. Your sacrifice is not something I can put into words, but thank you. Thank you for answering to a higher calling and doing what you felt had to be done. Thank you to your families. May all six of you rest in peace.

Priorities people. Priorities.

Going Dark

I tend to shy away from politics or hot button topics on this blog, but occassionally one will peak my interest to the point I cannot resist writing a little something. Mainly, I want to know what other people think. I can sit here and write my opinions day and night (well, duh, it is my blog) but it doesn't make for that interesting of reading material. Not that I am boring or anything (right?) but I just tend to steer clear of such things.

But today I had to take notice of certain major websites going dark to protest SOPA and PIPA. SOPA, Stop Online Piracy Act, is in the House of Representatives while PIPA, Protect IP Act, is in the Senate. What are they? In a nutshell it is something pushed by big media Hollywood types to prevent piracy. Tons of people download illegal movies, music and television shows that put the studio executives (and the cast and crew) out of profit. It makes sense that they would want it to stop (therefore breaking the hearts of bored college students everywhere). Some of the supporters of the legislation include the Motion Picture Association of America and the US Chamber of Commerce. They say online piracy hurts American companies and destroys jobs. The MPAA estimates the U.S. loses more than 300,000 jobs, $16 billion in earnings and $58 billion in economic output each year because of pirated movies, music, software and video games, according to The Chicago Tribune .

But there is a problem. How far is too far?

The article I mentioned above put it in some easy to understand terms, "For example, Google could be forced to drop an offending site from its search engine results. Or the government could go to court to stop a U.S. company that facilitates online payments to a suspected infringing site. Internet companies say they have neither the time nor the resources to monitor every link on a website or post by a user."

Do you agree? Say you can have a site like the Homefront United Network. Maybe someone there posts a video they found that they love the song in the background or the message in the video. The HUN realistically could get shut down due to user posted content. See where the problem can lie? A spam attack of such material on any website could shut down a user based forum in a heartbeat. Or say you use Site A, maybe a German based craft company. Well Site A has random ads using Site B, a piracy encouraged site. Google and the US internet could block Site A just for mentioning Site B even though they have nothing to do with one another. You could argue that Site A knows what Site B does, but think of Google Ads. Do you get to choose what pops up on your blog all the time? You may get to select categories and interests that relate to your blog, so Site A says they like music which Site B happens to have.... illegally.

Some of the sites protesting today include...

Wikipedia (completely shut down the English version for 24 hours)



Google (still operational but protesting)



and Craigslist (shut down 24 hours)




Others apparently are too. So, when does big brother come in? How long is it before only 'government approved' sites could be linked through Google or Wikipedia? What if your own blog was monitored? I'm just curious to know what you all think. Do you think it would ever get that far? Is this just the first step in that direction? I am curious to hear your thoughts!

Go Big Blue!

Rylie and I are having a pretty low key weekend. Tonight, we are watching the Giants/Packers game!



She did not like wearing my shirt. She got revenge by peeing on the carpet. Putz.



But now she seems into it! Between chewing her giraffe and stealing my sneakers from the bedroom and bringing them to me (aka me chasing her down and getting them back) we have moments where she is watching tv. Rylie could not be more my dog if she tried! It is too cute.

GO BIG BLUE!!!! Let's do this!

Hot Dog!

Cuteness for the week... Rylie loves her hot dog!

MilSpouse Quiz

I have seen this quiz floating around so I wanted to give it a try!

The Milspouse Quiz

1. How did you and your spouse meet?

Ryan and I met at a Saint Patrick's Day party my junior year of college. It was at an off campus house named "Big Blue" and hosted by my fellow theatre majors. You didn't have to be in our major to come to the party, friends of friends always found a way. My best friend at the time Megan invited her freshman year room mate Taylor who invited her Marine boyfriend Brandon who invited Ryan and his two friends, Joey and Wes, because he needed a ride anyway. Yea... it is a miracle we met in that confusion! Ryan saw me talking on the porch and asked me about the shamrock I had painted on my cheek (Catholic University had a slightly large Irish population...) but I was oblivious and nearly blew him off! Luckily he was persistant and we talked most of the night. He friended me on facebook that night and we went on our first date two months later.

2. How old were you when you two met?

I was 20 (and a half) and Ryan had turned 20 about three weeks prior. I am about five months older and I tease him about it all the time!

3. How long have you been together?

We will be married two years on May 1st and 'together' four years as of May 8th

4. Where are you and your spouse originally from?

I was born in Carteret NJ and grew up mostly in Neshanic Station NJ... small small town. Ryan was born and raised in Lexington, SC.

5. How did you feel about him joining the military?

I had no comment! He was in for nearly two years when we met! When he re-enlisted however it was a choice we decided would be best for the both of us and our family, difficult though it may be. Ryan was a Marine when I met him and always will be... even when he retires. I think he will have a bumper sticker like my Poppy does, "Marines don't die, they just go to hell and regroup"

6. Where did your spouse go to Basic Training?

He went to Boot Camp on Parris Island (about 65 years after my Poppy had gone!) and then SOI and MCT were basically at Chesapeake and LeJeune. For his re-enlistment he is now going through BEC and his other schooling in 29 Palms CA to become a Ground Radio Technician.

7. Has your spouse ever been deployed?

Yes, to Iraq in 2009. We were just dating then, not married.

8. Ever been to his promotion ceremony?

No sadly. He picked up Corporal when we were engaged and I was living in NJ, he told me not to drive down and miss work, it was no big deal. Then he picked up Sergeant in 29 Palms last month, a bit too far! But I have been to his re-enlistment ceremony.

9. How long have you been a military wife?

Since I have been married, according to my blog ticker, 1 year 8 months 1 week and 2 days.

10. Did you marry him before or after he joined?

Way after.

11. How did your husband propose?

The short story, when he came to visit me in Disney after he got back from Iraq. I was still working there and he knew I loved the EPCOT Fireworks show Illuminations. He got down on one knee in the middle of the fireworks show by the lake in front of Italy in the World Showcase. You can read the whole story here.

12. Where did you get married?

At the church I basically grew up in... Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Roman Catholic Church in Three Bridges NJ. Our reception was at the Grand Colonial, about half an hour from there.

13. How old were you two when you got married?

We were both 22.

14. Did he wear his uniform on his wedding day?

Of course! As did all his groomsmen (minus my little brother), my grandfather and his grandfather.

15. Where are you and your spouse currently stationed?

Technically that is a difficult question. He is in school at 29 Palms, but not officially stationed there. I live in Virginia since he was stationed last at 8th and I in Washington DC. We still collect DC BAH and I still go to the barracks for things, such as laundry. As of April we will have a more definitive answer to this!

16. Do you live on base?

No. 8th and I does not have a base technically, it is just a barracks... so we couldn't even if we wanted to. Ryan does live on base in 29 Palms in the barracks.

17. How long were you married when you had to go through your first separation?

Surprisingly we got super spoiled. Our first separation happened two months after our first anniversary. 8th and I is basically non deployable, so until Ryan started school August 1, 2011, we did not have to be separated. August 1 2011 - April 12 2012 is the total time.

18. What is your favorite base so far?

We have only technically been stationed at 8th and I. When he did his deployment work up in 2009 Ryan was at Quantico, which was pretty nice. 29 Palms... I visited once and although the views are gorgeous I don't really want to live there!

19. Do you think your spouse looks good in his uniform?

Of course. He looks good in anything, but he is quite dashing in uniform... whether it is cammies, Charlies or his Blues.

20. Do you think military life is more advanced than civilian life?

Advanced? How so? In the sense we have to bond together more, perhaps, but there is still drama regardless!

21. Do you like the benefits you receive as a military dependent?

I suppose. I feel bad using them almost. I hate having to ask if discounts are offered (so I usually don't) for military. My husband is in, not me... he deserves the perks! Ryan would argue that I put up with enough that I deserve them too, but I still feel weird about some of it!

22. Do you have a lot of military wife friends?

Locally I hang out with one other wife Kyndra, her husband Tim is friends with Ryan. I had another girl who Ryan worked with her husband, but once my husband wasn't her husband's NCO anymore she suddenly wasn't my friend.... nice right? Kyndra is wonderful and I love her though! Naturally I then have my blogging friends who are all amazing whether I have yet to meet them in person or not!

23. What is the hardest part of the military life?

I want to instantly jump and say deployments... but really any separation. Even though Ryan is safe and in country and we can text and call every day or even visit when the funds arise... it is so hard to be apart from the person you love. So so so hard. I bet whether they are in training, across the country, or across the world that empty place in your heart twinges,.

24. Do you own military wife stuff?

Not really "wife" stuff. I have a bull dog keychain from my Poppy and a USMC ribbon on my car. Then we have this awesome sign in our dining room and a few other little things. Plus I commandeer my husband's sweatshirts all the time.

25. Do you support your spouse as a member of the military?

Of course. I am so proud of him and I will always support him.

So fellow MilSpouse buddies... give it a go! I am curious to see what your answers are!