Spa Night and Spouse Experience

This has been a busy week so far but I'm so thankful for that. It's helping one fly by! Yesterday I went to work, ran home and walked the Dup, and then headed back to base for a spa night. It was a lot of fun!

We had four different stations; reflexology, sugar scrubs, yoga and massage. It felt wonderful to do some yoga, it has been a long time and my muscles were tighter than I ever remember them being. I really need to go find a class again, it's so hard to motivate myself to do workouts alone at home! And the massage was heavenly. I did not want to get out of the chair!

Today I was off from work but I did my usual commute to base to help out with SpouseBUZZ's military spouse experience. It was such a terrific day (massive artillery shaking the building and all!). I got to meet and see some amazing bloggers and people in the military community I've known (even just online) for years. Plus I met lots of great new people too. 

 Spouse Experience is a fun day. No powerpoints here, more like get on your feet and meet people and discuss the real experiences we all have and share. I'm so honored to even be involved in my small capacity! If any base near you hosts one please attend. It is so worth it!

Lots of people attended. Some spouses were married less than a month and others for up to 37 years! It's for everyone. The speakers are always fantastic, the prizes are awesome and the food was delicious!

I even got to be in a fake fight with Jayce for an activity. My husband would recognize my "You cannot be serious!" fighting stance!

Borrowed from the SpouseBUZZ Facebook page

The event let out around two so I had plenty of time to go home, nap, walk the Dup and then meet everyone for dinner at Ale House. It was a really nice dinner and I enjoyed getting to know everyone more. Now I'm home and quite sleepy! Tomorrow is work again but the library is officially closed for renovations, a new ceiling! We all will report in tomorrow to move books, pack and dismantle shelving before the construction crew arrives next week. Tomorrow night is a Return/Reunion brief with banner making supplies.... So you all know what that means ;)

Deployed Spouses Night Out

I haven't been able to make a lot of our units events due to work or being out of town, but I'm thankful I've made almost all of the girls night outs. This month we went to Wine and Design and our small group painted some beautiful moonlit poppies. 

I was aprehensive with mine while it was in progress but I ended up loving how it turned out!

Even more adorable was the fact that a couple was in our class and they got engaged! We knew ahead of time via email so we wouldn't spoil anything and it was so special to witness. The guy was brave and did a different painting from the rest of us of a gorgeous sunset with two wine glasses. He sat next to me with his fiancé across from him so she didn't see him write Marry Me in cursive (impressive to do with paint) across the top of his finished painting. He brought it around to her side to examine her finished painting then asked if she liked his. Her jaw dropped in surprise and he suddenly had a ring in his hand! So so adorable! I was hoping Wine and Design uploaded our group picture to their Facebook page but I didn't see it yet to share with you!

Either way, some art, wine and good company was a perfect night out. I even hung my painting in our bedroom!

Next week I'll be attending the unit Spa Night (with yoga and smoothies promised) on Tuesday, the SpouseBUZZ Spouse Experience Wednesday and some homecoming banner making Thursday. 

That's right readers, homecoming banner making time! I got our first official window notice today and I'm super excited! Not too much longer now!!!

Edited to add photos from the Wine and Design Facebook Page!

 

 

Military.com Spouse Summit 2013

Readers, I am honored to share this information with you all today. A few years ago as a semi new blogger and newlywed I heard about Military.com's Milblog Conference. Even though it was the weekend of my first wedding anniversary my husband understood when I jumped at the chance to attend (at least half of it!).

I had a blast. For the first time I was able to put names and faces in person to the bloggers I had been following for years. To be honest, I was a bit starstruck! 

This is one of the group pictures from the night of the conference... all of these women are amazing bloggers that I could not believe I was fortunate enough to meet!

The networking possibilities were endless, not just for bloggers either. I knew people who attended the conference and left with not just a pocket full of business cards but legitimate job opportunities as well. Now this was in 2011... two years later the conference has evolved. Do you have to be a blogger to attend? Nope! This year they are trying to reach all military spouses who wish to attend. If you can get to the DC area April 11th and 12th I highly encourage it!

Military.com’s Spouse Summit is not your typical conference. First of all it’s free! And they have banned the PowerPoint and 30 minute speeches in favor of interactive sessions with experts you can actually talk to and network with. The summit will focus on the issues that really matter like connecting with other spouses-on and offline, military mental health, what works when raising kids in the military, spouse career options and what you need to know about that looming transition to civilian life that faces every single military family at some point in their lives.

And the speakers this year are truly top notch: they have representatives from the Center for Deployment Psychology, The US Chamber of Commerce, The Warrior and Family Support office of the Chairman of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, University of Southern California's Center for Innovation and Research on Veterans and they are so honored to have as our keynote speaker Sal Giunta, the first living Medal of honor recipient since Vietnam. Amazing stuff, right?

The link to register is: http://spousesummit.com/ and you can follow along on Twitter this year with the hastag #MilSpSum

I am very disappointed I cannot attend this year. Naturally this is the weekend of my play! So I will be in North Carolina, jealous of all the lucky spouses who will have an amazing time. Do you plan on going? Let me know!

New Article: Ups and Downs of Military Towns

Note: Rhyme Scheme totally unintentional.

My latest article is up on SpouzeBUZZ.com! Check it out and let me know what your view is!

The Ups and Downs of Moving to a Military Town

Are you in the ups? Downs? Do you wish you did/didn't live in a military town?

SpouseBUZZ Live!

This is long overdue! With PCSing in just four days my blogging has fallen behind but I have to try and catch up a bit.

Flying to 29 Palms with SpouseBUZZ was an amazing experience. I got to meet some truly wonderful bloggers like Lori from Witty Little Secret , Sarah, Jacey and Ms Vicki from SpouseBUZZ and Kristle from Forget the Dog Not the Baby.

I was up at around 4am and at the airport and across the country before I was fully awake. The Palm Springs Airport is easily the most gorgeous airport I have ever been to. It was outside and sunny and so warm. Virginia was a brisk 40 degrees when I left and Palm Springs was in the upper 80s! Bliss.







We met up in the airport and went for a delicious lunch together before driving up to 29 Palms to check in to our hotel. It was fancy and on an outdoor patio and delicious. We used the time to get to know one another, just chat and fill in our stories a little bit outside of the internet.



At the hotel we sat out by the pool, remembered to rush and buy Mega Millions Lottery Tickets, and just vegged. Ryan met me there after class and we all hung out and did a rehearsal of our Lightening Talks for the next day. These women are incredible, I was very nervous to be speaking with them, but they made me feel very relaxed and confident in their presence.





We were up bright and early the next day to head to the O Club on base for the conference itself. The spouses that came were pretty terrific too! We all gave our talks first, mine was about GeoBachelorhood... aka the last nine months of my life.





After the talks we broke out into focus groups and made top ten lists that correlated with the topics we discussed, mine being (naturally) 10 Advantages for GeoBachelorhood. I thought nine months was rough... some of the wives in my group have been doing it for YEARS. One woman's husband was in 29 Palms and she is in Utah with their two kids, working full time, for the past three years. And there is not really an end in sight for them.



After that the girls insisted Ryan and I take off and spend time together. They knew being apart was rough and Ryan helped with set up and the like so they were appreciative! My husband scored some brownie points! He borrowed a friend's car and we drove back to Palm Springs to check in to our next hotel. After a nap we went out and FINALLY saw the Hunger Games (SO good!) and went out to a nice dinner.

The next morning I was flying back to Virginia

I hope I get to go to another SpouseBUZZ event in the future. Jacey, Randy, Vicki, Lori, Sarah and Kristle were fabulous and the weekend was a learning experience as well as a blast. If they ever hold an event in your area... GO! It is worth it, even if you do have to wake up early on a Saturday!

Exciting Weekend

I have been keeping mum about this weekend because I was a bit nervous about it. It is such an amazing opportunity that I couldn't believe it was real, but since I am leaving tomorrow I know it is official!

As you may have noticed I started writing for SpouseBUZZ and if you are a Nicholas Sparks' fan you will appreciate my article this week! Well when they initially asked me if I wanted to write for the site they also asked me if I wanted to speak at SpouseBUZZ Live in 29 Palms at the end of March. Not only would I get to be a new blogger at the event (and speak!) but I would get to see Ryan!!! I initially declined but once they told me the trip was sponsored by the site (aka I get the flight and hotel covered) I couldn't say no!!!

So tomorrow I am getting up at 4am... I am not a morning person but I am pretty excited. I have a cab coming at 4:30 to be at the airport at 5 for my flight at 6am. At 11:30am (CA time) I will be in Palm Springs!! I'll have a nice lunch with the ladies who are running the show and the other bloggers that are also speaking. We will have a working dinner then I get to spend the night with Ryan! The conference is Saturday and then I spend the entire evening with Ryan before flying back Sunday morning.

I am super excited for this weekend and I cannot wait to tell you all about it!!!

Writer's Block

Writer's Block. Ugh. Or maybe that isn't the best term... blogger's block? You do all know I am a sucker for alliteration.

I think it is just because not a lot is happening, but at the same time the wings are so crowded it will all eventually pile on at once. Most of my days are just spent working, talking long walks with the pup pup, talking to my husband on the phone and hanging out with my friends when I can.


Rylie and I walk two miles or more a night and she is making lots of friends, like Moose, the Great Dane. She loves him!


Carrie and I spent Saint Patrick's Day at Murphy's in Old Town and may have gotten drunker than we planned trying to fend off preppy law students.


We celebrated Pi day at work on 3.14 and I wore these earrings as we ate pie. My clients enjoyed that.


I am also floored by how big Rylie has gotten!! My pup pup is huge, tipping the scales at nearly forty pounds!

As for our house it is just playing the waiting game at this point. Our offer was accepted, we had the inspection, submitted our mortgage paperwork and got the seller to agree on some repairs. Apparently the bank was sending someone for the mandatory appraisal (which was supposed to be five to ten business days after I got the paperwork in) and it has taken literally forever. I am getting frustrated as we are moving in less than a month, but that won't happen if there is nowhere to move to!

Then Ryan calls the bank today and they send us this email, "Oh, by the way, we need these seven things from you to proceed."

What??

So if we didn't call to bug you, would we have just been waiting around?

First of all, the first item in the list was in our mortgage paperwork. There is nowhere to sign it, it was a view only document, but they have it. Ryan now has his orders so he can send those. But they want bank statements and pay stubs... things we could have sent them over a month ago without a problem! It still isn't a problem, but I am pretty annoyed at this "Oh yea!" sort of moment. More than annoyed actually.

Ugh.

Anyway.

I've officially become a writer on spouseBUZZ.com, that's some of the good. My third article went up today! Plus there is more good news to follow on that very soon!


Ok, I guess I wasn't as blocked as I thought. Maybe just disorganized. And stressed.

And addicted to the Draw Something app - Play me! Imyewneek

How do Habits Change When Your Military Spouse is Away?

How do Habits Change When Your Military Spouse is Away?

My second article was posted on SpouseBUZZ yesterday! I am really loving this (: Please go check it out and let me know what you think! Do your habits drasitcally change when your spouse is gone?

Plus: Some very exciting news is coming up! All thanks to SpouseBUZZ! Details soon to follow...

Check it out!

I am so flippin' excited.

No, no word on our house yet. Inspection is Tuesday, fingers are still crossed along with our toes, legs and eyes. But what else would make me positively giddy this week?



I was asked to write for spouseBUZZ.com and my first article was published!!! And another one should be appearing next week. Is there anything you all think I should write about? I have a few ideas, but I am curious to know if there is anything YOU, as a reader, would want. Leave a comment and let me know!

Go check out my article and leave some comment love there too, if you feel so inclined. It would make my day.

Now, excuse me while I spin in my office chair in uncontrolled excitement.


(:

EDIT: I'm being tweeted!!! I have no idea how twitter works, but this is pretty sweet.

EDIT 2: I'm on the homepage of military.com for the weekend!


Man I am such a dork. This is amazing!