USMC Birthday Ball 2015

This weekend we attended the 240th USMC Birthday Ball in Wilmington NC. It was an interesting weekend for us to say the least! I left my wallet at home, so I had no photo ID on me (no drinks for me!) or any of my cards. Not a good feeling. I also had a mini stomach attack in the car on the way down there that mercifully passed me by after just some very uncomfortable pain and nausea. Then we also thought the cocktail hour started at 6pm when it actually started at 5pm... and we found this out at 4:30pm. So needless to say I did not have time to do my hair this year! Oops. Luckily I got it cut and highlighted the day before so wearing it down wasn't too awful I guess? You would think we'd never done this before! But with all that going against us we still had a fantastic time.

We didn't really know anyone at our table, but we had other friends there to hang out with once the ceremony was over. This year's message from the Commandant spoke about the Legacy of the Corps and was really interesting to watch, as always.

We had some delicious food and were able to dance to a few songs together before it got pretty warm in the ballroom and we decided to call it a night.

Our professional picture... dang I wish I flipped my hair back or something!

Even though we had fun we ended up leaving earlier than we normally do... I realized that when we were snuggled in our pajamas in a giant hotel bed watching stand up comedy before 10pm! A surefire sign we are getting old. I can wear a fancy dress and heels and dance a lot or I can be in my pjs in a giant bed that is uber comfy? Hard choice! But we did have a great evening, I just didn't take that many pictures this year. We also ordered room service for the next morning to have breakfast in bed.

After we lazied about for awhile we met up with our friends Mark and Kayla to explore around Wilmington. We mostly ended up doing a lot of shopping and eating, but it was a lot of fun.

I love secondhand bookstores

We then found a painted mural that screamed photo opportunity! Mark and Ryan's came out the best I think... as nice as our couple-y shots were!

It was nice to have a day out with friends. We had a yummy lunch at Front Street Brewery, and I highly recommend their fried green tomato BLT!

Kayla and I enjoying downtown Wilmignton

After dinner Kayla and Mark introduced us to the deliciousness that is The Peppered Cupcake. Oh. My. Lanta. This stuff as heavenly good! All  natural ingredients, moist, delicious, wonderful flavors... I am a huge fan!

Hot Chocolate Cupcake

Shock O'lata Cupcake, my personal choice

After our cupcakes we headed home and watched the nail biter Giants vs Patriots game (SO. CLOSE.) and relax with some of the new tea we picked up that day. Even though we didn't get anything practical done (helloooo early morning vacuuming and laundry before work) it was really great to spend some time together and just relax and have fun. 

Very good weekend.

Valentine... a little delayed

So, this was scheduled to post a week ago and didn't actually post. Just when I think I am getting back into the swing of things.... Ah well.

 

Our Valentine's Day was a really nice one, I have to say. Ryan finished his first cycle as an instructor and had a long weekend and I was finally recovered enough from being sick from my surgery to go out and do things. We woke up in the morning and I gave Ryan a small painting I made him. I did not photograph it because it wasn't that good but he seemed to like it! We got ready and drove down to Topsail Beach to walk on the beach a bit. It was absolutely freezing so we only walked for maybe five or ten minutes before retreating to the warmth of the car, but it was still gorgeous to look at!

 

 

After the beach we continued on to Wilmington where we had a late lunch/early dinner at an all you can eat sushi place we kept seeing but never actually went to. It was absolutely delicious and we were full to the brim by the time we at our six or so special rolls! We then stopped at Trader Joes for some munchy foods for later that evening. My parents also sent us some Georgetown Cupcakes to celebrate me feeling better, Ryan's upcoming birthday, and of course Valentine's Day.

 

I also redecorated our mantle for the occassion. After my surgery my mom and I had made a trip to Hobby Lobby and everything (aside from my angels) came from there. It was my first time ever in a Hobby Lobby and I must say I need to avoid it lest I spend a TON of money on a regular basis!

 

We ended with a low key evening at home with our stuff from Trader Joe's. We had a bottle of wine, cheese and crackers, and a chocolate lava cake with frozen raspberries for dessert. Ryan lit a fire in the fireplace and we put the Frank Sinatra station on Pandora and had a nice evening together. Dancing may have been involved.

 

Overall it was a very low key Valentine's Day, but we spent it together, which is always a bonus in my book!

 

Battleship North Carolina

Last week (or maybe it was two by now...bad blogger) Ryan and I decided to both take leave and recreate our lost Labor Day Weekend. We had so many plans of local things we wanted to do before Ryan started his SDA (Secondary Duty Assignment) and a regular weekend just was not going to cut it. So we took off Thursday and Friday as well as a normal weekend. Thursday we used to clean the house, do laundry, and any other chores we normally do on a weekend. Thursday the guys in Ryan's shop also decided to throw him his going away dinner so it was nice to go to that as well.

 

 

So Friday we slept in a little bit and then drove down to Wilmington to see the USS Battleship North Carolina. All I have to say is thank goodness we went on a random Friday. There were still some people touring the boat, but it wasn't packed. We managed to see the entire boat, top to bottom, in about two and a half hours and explore every nook and cranny that we wanted to. If we had been here Labor Day Weekend I am sure it would have been packed and not as enjoyable, especially since Ryan is not too fond of crowds in small places. Can't blame him for that! So a blessing in disguise for sure.

 

Looking out to aim the guns

 

It was harder than I thought to align the scope!

 

 

As you can see from the pictures, it is pretty empty! It almost looks like we have the ship entirely to ourselves. When we went through the Engine Rooms we actually didn't even run into anyone else, but it could have been since it was close to closing.

 

 

After we explored the Battleship we crossed the bridge to have dinner in downtown Wilmington. We hit the timing just right because we got a prime parking spot and managed to get seats at a restaurant that we always failed to get seated at previously. We even got balcony tables with a view of the Battleship! Score!

 

 

The food was delicious... Arancini (rice balls that we first tried in Sicily), an avocado caprese salad, spinach ravioli (for me) and fish and chips (for Ryan)... oh yum.

 

Our table was the balcony right above the red awning on the side of the building.

 

 

We then got to watch a gorgeous sunset behind the Battleship over the river as we enjoyed some ice cream. The smell of ice cream cones hit you square in the face as soon as you turned on to the street, so it was nearly impossible to say no regardless of how full we were.

 

All in all, a wonderful day. 



TV Extra, Take Two

For the first, and pretty unsuccessful, attempt at being an extra on TV check out this entry.

Last week I saw that Revolution was looking for extras again for two days of filming. I submitted and also let my friend (and fellow milspouse blogger) Annie know to submit as well... and we were both cast! Last Wednesday we drove down to Wilmington together to get our costume fittings and this week we were on set. Mind you when we went for our fitting it was 75 degrees. Tuesday and Wednesday this week? Barely hit 40. Freezing. Our costumes were all knee length, no sleeves and no suitable for this kind of weather at all!

Costume One:

 Eventually they took pity on us and gave us jackets for a scene the second day.... but did I mention the four inch heels that accompanied this little gem? No? They hurt. A lot.

Costume Two:

At least this one had a flimsy cardigan, but I'll take it. And flats! Halleluiah for flats!!!

So the first day of filming our call was 5:30am. Which meant being awake around 3:30am to get to Wilmington on time! Annie picked me up at 4:15am and we made it with time to spare. It was dark and cold and as the sun came up and the day went on it just got colder and windier!

We were filming at a mall in Wilmington pretending it was summertime in Atlanta. It was freezing! Whenever we could our winter jackets were on, but when filming happened we had to stash them off camera and be in our sleeveless dresses that barely hit our knees. My feet were numb with cold and pain, my nose was running and red, my face got windburn and my entire body hurt after the first day of filming. I did meet some amazing people, see the stars of the show way up close, and learn a lot (and hopefully got on camera!) but MAN it was cold!

Check out those winter jackets!!! And the fact that as many people are trying to huddle in the sun as possible. Penguin shuffle!

 The stars got pants. And sleeves. I was a little jealous!

 Our location for filming day one.

 Of course an amazing lunch (and breakfast) were served!

We did a lot of scenes in the market, some with the stars of the show, and some for Visual Effects to make our crowd of say 75 look like 500. That meant a lot of walking up and down the sidewalk and in small sections of the street over and over again to splice together in post production. In the beginning when the crew asked for volunteers everyone was eagerly trying to get picked. By night and hour 10 when they asked for volunteers we just avoided eye contact as much as possible! Not getting picked meant staying in holding with your jacket (and in my case sweatpants and boots) on! You never say no when they pick you so some people I was with did have to go out a few more times. I was content to sit and wait in the warmth!

 I got home around 9:00pm.... so that would be a 13.5 hour day. We went into double time pay! My husband had a bubble bath waiting for me and made me soup before my chilled sore self passed out before 10pm! I was so cold the bath water nearly burned me and turned me a lovely shade of red, but it wasn't that hot. I was just so so cold it felt boiling.

Luckily day two I got to sleep in as I wasn't called until 2:30pm. I slept a solid twelve hours and laid around the house until it was time to drive back to Wilmington! Day two was much more fun! I got to be in a smaller scene of people entering the Atlanta federation and then in a huge chaotic running scene at night. It was tons of people running and screaming and a blast! This time they let us wear our comfy shoes with our cocktail dresses and even our jackets! It made a huge difference to morale! Running in Uggs is miles above running in four inch peep toed heels for six hours. Seriously.

 Hair would grab you wherever they could to do adjustments, there were a lot of us after all!

Daytime filming.

 Huddled around the propane heater

 On set

 Waiting to go

 With one of my new friends Kat

 Torches! It looked awesome. No pitchforks though.

 Cut!

 Walking back to places.

 Heading back to holding to warm up!

 Inside holding, the place extras wait, snack and try to warm up.

 Camera crane

 Almost ready to go!

 Such a fun night!

 Extras can double as hobos when it is cold enough.

Me on set with my winter jacket firmly in place over my cocktail dress. Priorities!!! And I had my boots on. Definitely a much more fun night!

I met some amazing people that I hope I can hang out with again! This time being an extra was amazing, it blew the first time out of the water, and not just because I got used and got to film, I promise. It was two long, cold and tiring days but I am so glad I did it. And I will do it again if the chance arises! This episode should air around the end of April, I will let you know for sure when the date gets closer and more defined.