Dreams Take Flight

Home.

2013-04-08T16:14:00.000-04:00

On Thursday, April 4th, 236 days after we said goodbye, I welcomed Brian home from Afghanistan.

Thank you for your prayers. We are blessed beyond measure.

WILW: Reunion Edition

2013-04-03T10:12:00.000-04:00

Happy Wednesday! Here is a very special pre-homecoming edition of What I'm Loving Wednesday. :)

I'm loving that I got to spend a long weekend in Maryland with my family and friends to take my mind off of all the preparations for Brian's arrival home. Let's be honest - he doesn't care if I scrub the baseboards or deep clean the washing machine (thanks for planting that stupid idea in my head, Pinterest). My weekend away was exactly what I needed to stop driving myself insane (at least temporarily) - even if I did have to share my bed with a certain dog. :)

As much as I might feel like I'm going out of my mind with excitement and anxiety, I'm loving getting ready for Brian's homecoming. I wanted to do a few things to make him feel special, like hanging a welcome home banner and having a meal he'd love ready at home (Crock Pot BBQ sandwiches and baked sweet potatoes with cinnamon honey butter). I hope he can feel how much he has been missed around here.

I'm loving that I'm only working a half day today to finish up some last minute errands. This is another instance of driving myself crazy (as is running around the mall for two hours yesterday trying to find a new homecoming outfit since it will most likely be raining and the dress I planned on wearing isn't going to cut it), but I'm excited for some time off work to enjoy the sunshine and get things done.

I'm loving that I can finally cancel our Skype subscription and won't have to see this screen pop up on my phone again anytime soon!

I'm loving that there is a certain happy reunion I've been anticipating for 234 days just around the corner. :)

I'm linking up with Jamie for WILW. :)

On What Has Changed

2013-03-28T13:22:00.000-04:00

A lot of things have changed for me since that day in August when I dropped Brian off for his deployment to Afghanistan. At the risk of sounding a little cliche, I would say that I have changed....in good ways and in bad.

Source: ginafilipelli.tumblr.com via Lauren on Pinterest

I...

...am way too comfortable being by myself. I'm an introvert, and spending time alone has always been my preferred way to recharge. While that's all well and good, let's just say that I've never had quite as much "me time" as I have had over the past (almost) 8 months. I think I'm done with it.

...have become a little too glued to my iPhone. This is really not a great development at all, but there is something comforting about having a connection to the outside world in moments when I am very much alone. I have spent a lot of time scrolling through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and my favorite blogs and sharing my own little happy moments as well....not to mention checking my e-mail for notes from Brian and the reassurance that he's safe. Being far away from most of my family and friends, my handy smartphone also enables long conversations to catch-up when I feel out of the loop or lonely. This is also amplified by the fact that social media has become part of my daily responsibilities at work (which is a double-edged sword). Even with all of the positives, I am really hoping that to break this habit with Brian's return and spend my time in the moment with him. Being addicted to my iPhone is not really how I want to spend my days. On that note, this article from the New York Times is a good read on the topic.

Source: alicismo.tumblr.com via Lauren on Pinterest

...have become a morning person. I wake up four days a week at 5:30 am to fit in a workout before I even have a chance to think about it. I kind of love it. It just works so much better for me than spending all day dreading dragging myself to the gym on top of all of my other evening responsibilities (like making dinner and watching Jacoby Jones on Dancing with the Stars).

...have almost completely changed my eating habits. I am a little bit nervous for Brian's return given my renewed dedication to eating healthy by limiting eating out to one meal per week (if that) and cleaning up my food choices with more whole grains, fruits, and veggies and fewer processed options. I can tend to get a little obsessive (in a bad way) about these kinds of things when left to my own devices. While it sounds like Brian is on board with at least making some healthier choices, I have to say I'm excited for date nights out and at least a few more opportunities to indulge in dessert. :)

Source: thegirlsoflincolnpark.com via Lauren on Pinterest

...spend significantly more time in sweats. I'd guesstimate that I change out of my work clothes approximately 2 minutes after walking in the door at the end of the day. I used to at least wait until we had finished dinner. Not a habit I plan on changing, actually. There is nothing like pulling on a pair of boyfriend sweats after a long day in dress pants and heels.

...am more independent. Brian sees this in a lot of ways, but I mostly have just adapted to the circumstances out of necessity. I have run our entire household myself and somehow managed to hold it all together. I travel alone and feel confident I can take care of myself (although I can't always manage to get my luggage in the overhead bin without some assistance from a helpful stranger.) Driving somewhere I was unfamiliar with used to cause extreme anxiety for me, but now I've had to do it so much I hardly even think about it.

Source: awelltraveledwoman.tumblr.com via Lauren on Pinterest

...have become extremely frugal. This is so out of character for me, but I can probably count on one hand the number of times I've been out shopping for myself and actually bought something since August. Saving money has almost become a game to me! Brian makes a little bit more while he is deployed, and we are obviously spending less on gas and food. It has given us an awesome opportunity to get ahead financially, but I may have taken this to a little bit of an extreme. I hope I can let go of this and find a comfortable middle ground again once Brian is home.

...have learned to practice gratitude. Over the course of this deployment, I have had some great days and some really sad, low days when I didn't even want to get out of bed in the morning. Thank goodness for a job that requires me to (at least on weekdays). Keeping a daily gratitude journal has really changed the way I look at things at the end of the day. I have heard a lot recently about the link between gratitude and happiness, and I can attest to it. I hope it's a habit I continue.

Overall, in thinking about the ways I have adapted to being alone, I realize how much Brian just provides the balance to my somewhat crazy, obsessive-compulsive self. I am just ready to get back to our normal.

Source: imgfave.com via Lauren on Pinterest

Savannah St. Pat's

2013-03-25T10:19:00.001-04:00

I have been extremely blessed to have several visitors to Savannah over the past few months: my parents and sister for my birthday in January, my dear friend Amanda in February, and Megan this month for a very Savannah St. Patrick's Day! St. Pat's just so happened to fall during Megan's spring break from law school, and I knew it would be such a fun weekend for her to visit! The weather was perfect on the Saturday of the parade, and we enjoyed walking around seeing all of the craziness downtown and then escaping the crowds for dinner on Tybee at the Crab Shack. The weather was a little less favorable for our beach day on Sunday, but we were stubborn and stuck it out for a few hours anyway. Monday called for a traditional Southern meal at Mrs. Wilkes (after a long wait in line) and some boutique shopping on Broughton Street.

We hit a little snag when I dropped Megan off at the airport on Monday night and her flight was delayed because of storms in the area, meaning she would miss her connection in Charlotte to get home. After being re-booked for a flight first thing in the morning, which ended up being cancelled, Megan was told she wouldn't be able to get out of the airport on any airline to any destination until 8 o'clock that evening(!). We finally decided to drive her to Jacksonville to hop on a flight straight to Baltimore. Whew...such a comedy of errors! We arrived in Jacksonville to absolutely perfect summer-like weather, and I'm still kicking myself for telling work I would be in later that afternoon. I totally should have packed a beach bag and played hookie!

It was so nice to have Megan in town - and she is officially my last visitor before Brian returns home!

My Golden Birthday!

2013-02-28T21:38:00.002-05:00

On January 27th, I turned 27 - my one and only golden birthday! (And let's just pretend this post isn't over a month late.) I wasn't really looking forward to this birthday without Brian until my mom, dad, and sister booked plane tickets to come down and visit me for the weekend. We actually lucked out with some nice, sunny weather (although it was less than warm), which was great for dragging my sister around to do all of the fun, touristy stuff for her first visit to Savannah. We did the Old Town Trolley Tour, wandered around River Street, ate way too much yummy food (including a trip to Paula Deen's), climbed to the top of the Tybee Island Lighthouse, and celebrated with a birthday dinner at Garibaldi's and chocolate cheesecake.

A very successful birthday, indeed.

A Super Sunday

2013-02-03T14:20:00.000-05:00

It has been so much fun to be a Ravens fan over the past several months. I first started watching football and cheering for the home team when Brian and I started dating. Five years later, I would now consider myself a full-fledged fan by my own accord and not just by marriage.

Football season started just a couple of weeks after Brian deployed, and it became my own little tradition to settle in for a day of football at home every Sunday. I am the type of person who needs to relax and have some downtime before the hustle and bustle of a new week begins, and I began to really treasure those football days. I cheered with every success, every amazing catch and last-minute win. I groaned with every failure, missed tackle, and dropped pass. It is easy to feel lonely in a house all by myself, but Ravens games were always a welcome distraction and passed the weekends a little bit easier.

It has been an incredible season, and I am so excited that they made it to the Super Bowl!

Brian will be waking up in a few hours, at 4am his time, to cheer on the Ravens from Afghanistan. I hope they can bring home the win!

GO RAVENS!

2012: The Year in Pictures

2012-12-31T11:19:00.000-05:00

I can't believe it is already time to recap my year in pictures (just like in 2009, 2010, and 2011). One of the reasons I love having this blog is so that I can document life as it happens. I love going back through old posts and reflecting on happy memories. Here are some of the highlights of 2012!

January

Brian and I rang in the New Year in Maryland with some of my best friends.

After 8 months of unsuccessful searching, I finally found a job in Savannah! (...and have since spruced up my cube so it is looking much prettier.)

Brian took me out for a fancy dinner on the water in Savannah to celebrate the big 2-6 (This was also the day Brian was told for like the third time that he was deploying, but he was nice and waited until the next day to tell me.)

February

After too much time spent dragging my feet, I finally parted with my wisdom teeth.

We celebrated Valentine's Day with a sushi dinner and a trip to Lulu's Chocolate Bar.

March

We spent a mountain weekend in Ellijay with our amazing small group. We had just joined them a month prior, and they adopted us into their Savannah family practically right away!

April

We celebrated Brian's 26th birthday with a low-key night at home (and frozen yogurt!)

We entertained Amber and Megan in Savannah...

...and had Brian's dad down for a visit, as well!

Brian dragged me out of bed for a Tybee Island sunrise the weekend before he left for a month of pre-deployment training.

May

We celebrated our first anniversary with a weekend trip to Palm Coast, Florida and survived our first tropical storm in the South!

June

We attended our first post-West Point military ball, a banquet on the water in Savannah.

My parents hosted a going away party for Brian while we were back in Maryland.

We spent an incredible week in Jamaica during Brian's pre-deployment leave.

I said goodbye to my first pet, Sugar. He lived a long and happy life, and I was glad I was in Maryland to see him one last time. I still miss that fat cat.

July

We celebrated the 4th in a very American way - at a Sand Gnats baseball game!

We met Brian's friend Joe and his fiance Casey for a weekend of golfing and fun at Beau Rivage in North Carolina.

We finally made it to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter on one last weekend trip before Brian left.

We had some pre-deployment pictures taken in Jacksonville by Jenn Hopkins Photography.

August

We said "see you later" as Brian left for his first deployment to Afghanistan.

September

I took a solo trip back to Maryland over Labor Day weekend.

October

Brian's cousin tied the knot at Old Fort Jackson on the Savannah River. It was nice to see all of Brian's family who was visiting, but I am glad this should be my only wedding without him here!

November

Brian was obviously missed at our Thanksgiving celebrations.

December

I finished a series of golf lessons with Cindy Jones and the Savannah Golf School!

I celebrated the start of the Christmas season with our Savannah friends!

Brian and I survived the holidays 7,500 miles apart.

I am so excited to ring in 2013, the year we'll be reunited! :)

Holiday Cheer

2012-12-31T10:57:00.000-05:00

As I wrap up my ten days in Maryland, it's hard to believe that the holiday season is over. I both looked forward to and dreaded this time for months. Now it's passed and I've survived.

I went back and forth a lot about whether to decorate our home for Christmas. The thought of dragging our huge tree out of the attic and decorating it purely for my own enjoyment seemed a little bit silly. After Thanksgiving, though, Brian convinced me to break out the holiday cheer. I compromised with him and bought myself a tiny 3' tree to at least display some of my favorite ornaments, including this year's - a globe to commemorate the Christmas we spent 7,500 miles apart. (The pretty quatrefoil ornament is this year's bonus ornament from Harry Potter World.)

Christmas was different without Brian. I took exactly zero pictures of the festivities as I ran around from house to house, visiting with both of our families solo. It was another time when I know Brian's absence was glaringly obvious to everyone, as it is for me every day. I expected a lot more sadness, but the holiday was still filled with lots of love and laughter. Christmas Eve marked the halfway point of Brian's deployment, and I am so thrilled to have passed this milestone. I can't wait to begin the countdown to welcoming him back home.

Our 2012 Christmas Card!

2012-12-17T08:56:00.000-05:00

I absolutely love checking the mail this time of year and seeing everyone's beautiful Christmas cards! Now that ours have been signed, sealed, and delivered, I thought I would share them with all of you.

We also sent out an almost identical "Happy Holidays" version in blue to my Jewish side of the family. The pictures we used were taken by Jenn Hopkins Photography a few weeks before Brian deployed. We love her and the memories she captured for us!

Linking up with Faith's Christmas Card Carousel (for the second year!) You can see last year's post here. :)

Love and Care Packages

2012-12-12T15:09:00.000-05:00

Brian has truly amazed me over the past four months. I married a man with incredible character. I have so much respect for the way Brian lives his life and the kind of husband he chooses to be to me every day. This has become even more apparent since he's been deployed. I know there is no way on God's green earth that I would give up my comfortable way of life to do what he is doing. Maybe he wouldn't have done it either, given the choice in the moment, but he chose to join the Army knowing this was a very real possibility. I can imagine how bitter and negative I would feel towards the whole thing if I were in his shoes.

I think what impresses me the most about Brian recently is how upbeat and positive he is every time we talk. I rarely hear him complain about anything, and that's certainly not because everything there is sunshine and rainbows. This situation is harder and crappier for him than it is for me, and he is typically the one offering encouragement. He sends me handwritten letters and thoughtful e-mails. He wakes up extra early just to make sure we get a chance to talk. He leads us in whatever study we're doing or book we're reading together. He is so sensitive to my needs and what kind of support I need from him during this time apart. I thought we would have to put "us" on hold for these nine months, but he has shown me that that couldn't be further from the truth. I attribute the uncharacteristic strength I have had to handle this deployment mostly to God (because it's honestly inexplicable), but also to that sweet husband of mine.

Brian took this picture specifically to "send flowers" to me. He said everyone made fun of him; poor guy!
See? Ridiculously sweet.

The funny thing is, the more Brian goes out of his way to take care of and encourage me, the more I want to do the same for him. One small way I've been doing this has been through care packages; I decided early on that I wanted to send Brian one themed package a month. There aren't many ways I can take care of him from halfway across the world, but I can at least send him something that will make him smile and remind him of how much I love him.

I love going out and finding little things to send Brian throughout the month (even though getting ideas from him is basically like pulling teeth), and spending time in the evenings decorating the boxes. I've been attaching all of the pictures with double-sided tape, and he takes them off and puts them in a journal he's been keeping. The first time he opened one of my care packages, he said "it was like love shined out of it," which was exactly the reaction I was hoping for. Getting mail is definitely a bright spot for him, and I'm glad I can spend time and effort on something that brings him at least a little bit of joy.

It's hard to believe four months have already passed since the last time I saw my husband. And, if things go as planned, I only have four more care packages to plan and ship out to him before he is packing up to come home to me! I can't wait.

Thanksgiving Weekend

2012-11-30T11:53:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday! I can't believe it has already been a week since I was back in Maryland. It was somehow both a relaxing and busy trip. I ran around to three different Thanksgiving dinners between my family and Brian's, went to the Maryland Christmas Show with friends (who sent me home with the most adorable Thanksgiving 'care package'), and picked the perfect Christmas tree at our annual trip to the tree farm with our close family friends.

My family (including Riley!) sent Brian the pictures below of our Thanksgiving festivities. I hope he knows how much he was missed!

Living in Gratitude

2012-11-21T12:00:00.000-05:00

The holiday season is officially upon us, and I would be lying if I said I didn't dread it a little bit this year. Every single day is hard without Brian, holiday or not, but I think all the family time and "togetherness" is just another reminder that he isn't here with me. Even worse, Thanksgiving is one of Brian's favorite holidays, and it is the first big thing he's missing out on. I know it's harder for him.

However, I think it would be easy to get extremely bitter in this season of our life, and I have been determined not to let that happen to us. The fact of the matter is, Brian chose to serve our country and I chose to marry him, knowing of that choice and supporting him in it (regardless of whether either of us really knew what that meant at the time). I hate when people act like they feel sorry for me, and I certainly don't want to fall into the trap of feeling sorry for myself. In a lot of surprising ways, this deployment has already done some incredible things for our marriage, our beliefs about what is important, and our outlook on life. There is always a bright side.

Many years ago, I saw an episode of Oprah where she talked about keeping a gratitude journal. Every day, she would write down a couple things she was thankful for. In the weeks leading up to Brian leaving, I decided to get a blank notebook and end every day he was deployed in the same way.

The notebook sits beside my bed, and every night before I go to sleep, I turn on the lamp on my nightstand, open it, and start out by writing "I am grateful for..." Even on not-so-good days, I make myself think of at least three things to jot down before my head hits the pillow. It has been amazing how appreciative this time has made me, for both the big and little things in my life. Even if this isn't the perfect situation, I can still be thankful. And really, will our situation ever be "perfect"?

That couple of minutes makes me feel like I'm truly living in gratitude for the many blessings God has given me. I don't think I can measure the value of reflecting on the blessings of health and happiness, the roof over my head and the groceries in my fridge, the friends and family surrounding me, the sunrise and sunset, every day. It's comforting to focus on the things I do have, rather than the things I don't. And I have a feeling I'll continue counting these things long after Brian is home, tucked safely into bed next to me.

I hope you all have a very happy Thanksgiving!

Tasty Tuesday: Dinner for One

2012-11-13T13:41:00.000-05:00

You know what's the absolute worst? Cooking for one person. For the first week Brian was gone, I continued to meal plan and cook as normal. I think I was just trying to hold on to some semblance of my life "before," but I threw away so much food that week. I've since adjusted somewhat, but that doesn't make me dread getting home from work and having to somehow feed myself any less. Nonetheless, I am still trying and learning. I promised myself that I would not resort to fast food out of necessity or eat Ramen more than once a month during this deployment, and so far I have stuck to that goal. Lately, I have even gotten in the habit of freezing half of whatever I'm making so that I have a quick meal for later. I'm sure that as soon as I have this all figured out, it will be time for Brian to come home and start cooking for me again. Which is fine by me!

One thing about cooking for myself that actually isn't so bad is the fact that I can define anything as "dinner" if I want to...like this Spinach and Artichoke Dip from Cooking Light. It was perfect for a Sunday dinner during football season! Even though I halved the recipe, I still had to bring a lot of leftover dip to small group a few days later. But at least my mini ramekins are adorable and other people got to benefit from my cooking instead of throwing the rest away. :)

Iowa Girl Eats has been a great resource for quick and easy meals, and her recipes usually make just enough for me to have dinner and leftovers for lunch the next day. My two recent favorites are this Easy Chicken Lo Mein and Easy Chicken Fried Rice. Notice the "easy" in both titles. Crucial.

I have also been making a lot of soups lately due to the colder weather, and this Chicken Pot Pie Soup from Skinnytaste is definitely a new favorite! I cut the recipe in half and omitted the mushrooms. Ew, mushrooms.

Because Brian doesn't really like fish, I've been eating a ton of Baked Salmon since he left. It's so quick; you just throw it in the oven with a thin layer of mayonnaise and some salt and pepper on top. I realize the mayo thing sounds totally icky, but don't knock it 'til you try it!

The sauteed shrimp in this Shrimp Pasta with Tomato, Lemons, and Spinach is so yummy! I ate the rest over salad with a lime vinaigrette for lunch the next day. This is an easy pasta dish with lots of flavor...as long as you like lemon!

And of course, I also enjoy some really sophisticated dinners like soup and grilled cheese. On that note, please leave any "dinner for one" suggestions below! :)

On Recreational Companionship

2012-10-31T11:46:00.003-04:00

A couple of months before Brian left, we read the book His Needs Her Needs. In short, this marriage book discusses the basic (and very different) needs that men and women have, and one of the male needs the author addresses is recreational companionship. Brian and I have often tried to find some hobby or sport that we could enjoy together, throughout our dating days and into our first year of our marriage. While we are often stepping outside of our comfort zones to try new things for each other, and I think that's important, we have never had a consistent shared hobby. When it came to finding a long-term recreational activity to enjoy as a couple, we were on opposite ends of the spectrum. Brian enjoys adventure and the outdoors, and I'm much more comfortable with activities that are safe, warm, and dry. Brian and I mulled over a couple of activities we could enjoy together. His suggestions? Mountain biking, camping, hiking, and kite-boarding (no, thank you). Mine? Photography, cooking, baking, and watching all of the Harry Potter movies as a marathon every weekend (kidding, kind of...).

There was seemingly no middle ground.

While I don't know many people who golf in Maryland, we realized when we moved to Georgia that it is a much more popular hobby here, even among people our age. There is certainly no shortage of golf courses and beautiful weather in Savannah. Brian started to get more interested in playing, and my dad gifted him a set of his old golf clubs. I went with him several times, but I didn't think I really had any interest in golfing beyond being the golf cart driver (which I was very good at, thank you very much).

I knew when Brian deployed that I wanted to focus on maintaining my physical and mental health while he was gone. I don't want to just suffer through every day, fall into bed, and wake up to do it all over again until he's home. I want to fill my time with worthwhile pursuits, laughter with friends, physical activity, sunshine, and as much happiness as possible. I want to grow as a person rather than remaining stagnant and counting down the days until Brian is back and things are normal again. I just want to live, every day, instead of wasting this time that I will never get back.

So, all of this to say that, every Saturday for the past six weeks, I have been taking golf lessons. I tried to keep it a surprise from Brian but was woefully unsuccessful. I'm actually enjoying it a lot, although I'm not sure I'll ever be great at it. I think what I love most about it is learning something that I've never tried before and actually finding some success at it! An excuse to enjoy the beautiful fall weather has been a delightful bonus.

This may be just the hobby to enjoy together until we're old and gray. For now, I can definitely say that it ranks above kite-boarding. I guess we'll have to wait and see!

The New "Normal"

2012-09-17T09:12:00.000-04:00

A month has officially passed since Brian left. Some days are easier than others, but I miss him terribly regardless of what happens day-to-day. I have been keeping busy with friends and re-learning how pass time by by myself. Over the past few weeks, I have:

...taken a weekend trip back to Maryland. While I got to spend time with my family, Brian's family, and my friends, the only pictures I took were of Riley and the sunflower field I visited with Brian's sister.

...attempted to cook for one person. This deserves a whole blog post, really. But I am eagerly accepting suggestions of how to feed myself without throwing away everything that Brian would have eaten. The way I see it, at least I'm cooking and not subsisting on a diet of Ramen.

...spent way too much time crafting. Wrapping yarn around this patriotic wreath occupied several nights in front of the T.V.

...realized that when Brian and I used to clean the house "together," he was doing pretty much all the work.

...put together two care packages. I've decided to send Brian one themed package a month, and decorating the boxes has been way too much fun. He has only received my August package so far, but I can't wait to share what I put together for September!

...Skyped with Brian once! It was so, so nice to see his handsome face. It made my whole month.

...been insanely busy at work. While my 9-5 has been a bit stressful, it makes my days fly by.

...gotten back into a good workout routine and set some new goals. This might be my favorite time of year in Savannah. The weather has been perfect for getting outside and being active. I know maintaining my physical health is important while Brian is gone...not just so I will look good when he gets home, but for my sanity too!

...started participating in a football pool at work. I love looking forward to every Sunday to cheer on "my" teams - obviously the Ravens first and foremost!

...been amazed at what these past few weeks have done for our marriage. I know that once we get through this, we will be able to get through anything together. This new "normal" feels anything but normal...but I am making the best of it and settling in. Time is ticking by.

HANAair Premiere Hair Dryer - Review

2012-09-09T22:21:00.001-04:00

There are so many things I love about living in the South. I love the friendly people, the sweet tea, the accents, the history and culture, the Spanish moss...the list could go on and on. One thing I don't love, however, is the struggle to tame my hair and prevent it from turning into a frizzy mess the second I step outside. Can you say humidity?

A little over a month ago, the people at Misikko, who make salon-grade hair dryers and ceramic flat irons, contacted me and asked if I would be interested in reviewing their most popular hair dryer, the HANAair Premiere.

Well, who could say no to that?

The first time I used this HANA salon-grade hair dryer, I was really impressed with how powerful it is. Even better, it gets hot, but not too hot, and dries my hair in probably 50-75% of the time that my old dryer did. As someone who is usually running behind getting out the door to go to work, those precious extra minutes have definitely come in handy!

The best part of using this hair dryer over the past month has been much smoother and healthier my hair feels. I am always sure to use a heat protectant (I like this one by John Frieda) and my new favorite hair product, Moroccan oil. With those products and this hair dryer, my hair actually stays relatively smooth in the Georgia humidity. Anyone who has lived or visited the swampy Savannah area can tell you that this is a feat! I am sold.

If you are interested in checking out Misikko's products for yourself, you can visit their website here.

Disclaimer: Misikko sent me this product to review. The opinions above are 100% my own.

Our "Magical" Weekend in Orlando

2012-08-24T10:29:00.001-04:00

The month or so before Brian left were some of the best weeks of our marriage. It's funny that when you're on borrowed time, you tend not to take anything for granted. I imagined the days leading up to him deploying being filled with sadness and worry, but surprisingly, they weren't.

Brian was determined to take me to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando before he left, and it was one of the most fun weekend trips we have taken in a long time! I still remember the announcement about the development of a Harry Potter theme park. I followed all of the construction and updates and, finally, the day it opened. I cannot believe it took us over two years to get there!

It. Was. Awesome. I was so impressed with all of the incredible detail that went into making J.K. Rowling's vision and stories come to life. It really felt like we had stepped right into the books.

Brian and I don't have many major points of contention in our relationship, but, frankly, I'm surprised we even started dating considering he had never opened a Harry Potter book, let alone seen any of the movies. I had prodded him a couple of times about it, but finally gave up and came to terms with the fact that we simply wouldn't share in the enjoyment of my favorite book and movie series ever.

BUT in preparation for our trip, Brian offered to watch the first movie with me. And then the second, third, and fourth. We ran out of time to watch all eight movies before we actually visited the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, but the ones we did watch gave Brian enough background to be almost as enamored with Hogwarts and Hogsmeade as I was.

The biggest victory came when we got home, though. Brian took the first book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, off of my bookshelf and took it to work with him to read during his lunch break. Willingly, and without me mentioning it. While he ran out of time before he left to really get into any of the books, his interest earned him a couple of brownie points in my book. I'm not sure how much down time he'll have in Afghanistan (or, as I've affectionately begun to refer to it as: The 'Stan), he took his Kindle with him and mentioned hoping to be able to read them all before he gets back. Maybe necessitating a visit back to the Wizarding World after the rumored expansion?

Mischief (somewhat) managed.

A Nine Month "See You Later"

2012-08-14T09:12:00.001-04:00

On Saturday, Brian and I drove onto post together, said a quick goodbye, and I drove home by myself. It's crazy to me that Brian is already on the other side of the world, in a different time zone, doing something that looks completely different from anything that we would typically do in our life together. He is watching the sunrise over the Himalayas, mulling around with other soldiers trying to call home, eating mystery meat stew, and flying into a country at war.

The goodbye was both harder and easier than I expected. I thought I would be in tears, but I wasn't. It happened quickly, we kissed goodbye once, and then Brian called me back over for a second goodbye. He climbed on a van and they drove away. Even typing this, it all feels very surreal. I keep waiting for it all to hit me - that I have to live here without my husband for nine months, worrying he's in danger and wondering if he is okay. It hasn't yet.

As the boys were loading up their gear right before they left, I noticed a rainbow. God's timing and reassurance is incredibly comforting. I know I can get through this time, and I can do it with a smile on my face because I know that's what Brian wants for me. It sucks that we have to be apart, but I can't spend nine months sad. It took me a long time to realize that. I am so blessed to have a good support system so that I can have the strength to be Brian's.

I love you babe and am praying for you all the time.

A New Countdown

2012-08-02T12:10:00.000-04:00

Today is my Friday. I took tomorrow and Monday off to spend one last long weekend with Brian before he heads to Afghanistan. The day we've been anticipating and dreading since November(!) is very quickly approaching. Brian has had a somewhat unique experience with so many changes, delays, and cancellations, but this deployment has somehow both taken forever to get here and happened in the blink of an eye.

I have run the whole gamut of emotions over the past few months. I have been sad (bordering on depressed), worried, angry (more often than I should have been), anxious, and just plain terrified. In the second half of July, though, a peace settled over both of us. We know that God is in control and has a plan for both of us during the next nine months.

I can't put into words how incredibly proud I am of Brian. I have so much respect for what he has chosen to do with this period of his life and I cannot believe I am lucky enough to call him my husband. I think this experience has already shown us how strong the foundation of the marriage we've built is and how blessed we are to have found one another, even if we do have to be apart. I wouldn't want to walk through life with anyone else by my side.

Source: richinnerlife.typepad.com via Lauren on Pinterest

I'm looking forward to making many more happy memories together this weekend, and then finally starting a new countdown - the one not to him leaving, but to welcoming him back home.

Source: lesapea.tumblr.com via Lauren on Pinterest

A Jamaican Vacation

2012-07-13T08:59:00.000-04:00

Going on a relaxing vacation during Brian's two weeks of leave really wasn't a hard decision at all. We knew we wanted to spend some quality time together and pretend to forget (for just a little while) about what the next nine months hold as he prepares to deploy. A trip to Negril, Jamaica was exactly what we needed before life gets shaken up a bit.

We had never gone to an all-inclusive resort, and I think Brian's description of "adult summer camp" is probably the most accurate. We stayed at Couples Swept Away and we had so much fun. I have Amber to thank for this suggestion, and we would definitely pass along the recommendation - it was beyond what we expected. We ate and drank entirely too much, did more laying around on the beach and floating in the water than was probably necessary, and took advantage of almost all of the included activities: sailing (Brian's favorite), water skiing, group fitness classes, a catamaran sunset cruise, open water snorkeling (not my favorite), tennis lessons, paddle boarding, tie dying, and a couples massage class.

I love Jamaica. The people are so friendly, and Seven Mile Beach is probably the most beautiful beach I've ever seen in my life. I'd go back in a heartbeat. It would be impossible to top our honeymoon but I think it's safe to say that this trip came in a close second.

I couldn't be more grateful for these happy memories.

Cheers to One Year!

2012-06-08T11:19:00.001-04:00

Over Memorial Day weekend, Brian and I celebrated our one year anniversary! We love to explore new places and will pretty much use any opportunity to get away together. The anniversary of saying "I do" was no exception, and Brian took the reins on planning this trip on his own. He chose the Hammock Beach Resort in Palm Coast, Florida, which was about a three hour drive from Savannah. Saturday was absolutely beautiful. We spent time on the beach and at the pool, and then ventured out for dinner at High Tides at Snack Jack.

On Sunday night, Beryl came ashore and made things interesting. I guess now we can say we've officially survived our first tropical storm in the South! And right on the coast, to boot. We watched the waves (and the crazy people swimming in them) from our balcony before the storm got too bad.

While the wind was howling outside, we had our anniversary dinner at Delfino's, the Italian restaurant on the resort. Complete with tiramasu and a canoli for dessert!

Monday was our actual anniversary, so we started it with a breakfast of wedding cake on our balcony. While we did cut into and eat a bit of our top tier, it was definitely smart that Brian surprised me with a replica anniversary cake. (Side note: I am pretty impressed with the Publix bakery!) Let's just say that year-old cake is not the most delicious thing I've ever eaten! Brian had a goal of eating an entire slice, which didn't happen...but we were both superstitious enough to take at least a bite each.

It was a wonderful first anniversary...I look forward to many, many more!

Tasty Tuesday: Restaurant Style

2012-06-05T12:21:00.001-04:00

Happy Tuesday! This weekend, Brian and I discovered the secret to restaurant-style steak. It involves an inordinate amount of butter, zero time on the grill, and a cast iron skillet. Did I mention the butter? Anyway, here is what we have been eating recently...including the most delicious steak ever!

This Broccoli Fettuccine Alfredo is from Budget Bites. Even better, it only requires a handful of ingredients, is "lightened up," and comes together in 20 minutes or less. These are all of the important characteristics that make a meal enter our regular dinner rotation!

While Brian was away last month for training, I managed to kill a pot of sweet mint and some cilantro. I never said I had a green thumb! Luckily, our basil survived the "drought" and went into this pesto. I used Ina Garten's basic recipe and served it with whole wheat pasta.

While I was on my pesto kick (due in part to the purchase of a cheapy food processor from Wal Mart), I also made this Roasted Red Pepper and Basil Pesto. I loved this different twist on pesto and the addition of grilled chicken.

The first time my sister made this chicken salad, I was incredibly skeptical. It calls for grapes, curry powder, and mango chutney(?!)...and normally, I'd pass. Luckily, she convinced me to try it and it is still my favorite recipe for a "dressed up" chicken salad. I made a whole batch of Paula Deen's Curry Chicken Salad and ate it on croissants for lunch throughout the week.

And last, but certainly not least, the most amazing steak I've ever had...and surprisingly, it was made in our own kitchen! Searing the steak on the stovetop and finishing on the oven (in addition to the aforementioned butter) are the secret to this Restaurant Style Filet Mignon. We made it Sunday night for date night at home, and served it with roasted vegetables and mashed potatoes. But no, not just any mashed potatoes - this is my new go-to recipe from the Pioneer Woman with an unexpected secret ingredient that makes the creamiest mashed potatoes ever. Don't knock it 'til you try it! I even cut down a good bit on the unhealthier ingredients, and they were still perfect. This entire meal was special occasion worthy. It was that good. :)

What's on your dinner menu this week?

Our Sweet Beginning: Reception Fun and Sparkler Exit

2012-05-25T10:35:00.001-04:00

Brian and I are gearing up for a weekend away in celebration of our first wedding anniversary! In some ways, it feels like we just got married yesterday; in others, it seems like I can't remember what life was like before we became husband and wife. I promised myself I'd have our wedding album done before the year mark (check!) and that I'd finish up these blog posts recapping our wedding day. Can you say "slacker"? But alas, here is the last installment of our wedding recaps - reception fun and our sparkler exit! Mission officially accomplished. :)

After getting all of the formal reception festivities out of the way, it was time for the party!

You can see some of the pictures from our wedding photobooth here. :)

These next few pictures crack me up. Brian and I never really had a "song" while we were dating, but we'd often jokingly serenade one another with K-Ci and JoJo's "All My Life." Imagine my ~~irritation~~ surprise when Brian had his best man request it...I love how Kristi is pointing accusingly at Pat as I'm realizing what he did. So we danced to the cheesy 90's song and I guess it wasn't so bad. ;)

During the reception, Brian and I snuck away for a little while to play with sparklers and get some pictures behind the Resident's Club. They include one of Brian's favorite pictures from the whole day (the black and white one below), and the ten minute break from the action was definitely welcomed.

We made it back to the party just in time for a couple minutes of dancing before the last song: Journey's "Don't Stop Believing." In college, the little bar/club (although it's a stretch to even call it that) I'd often go with my sorority sisters always played it as the last song. It was a nice little trip down memory lane. :)

Brian and I hung around for a couple minutes while our guests made their way outside for our sparkler exist.

And, because I'm obviously going for overkill, here's a little snippet from our wedding video done by Cord3 Films (formerly GM Elliot Videography). We seriously love our wedding video - you can see the trailer here.

The whole day went by so fast, and I just remember being kind of shocked that it was all over. It was easily one of the best days of my life, and I think I've gone through all of the pictures at least once a month since that day last May. More importantly, I love the marriage we've built over the past year. I'm seriously proud of our commitment to each other and excited to celebrate our happily ever after at the beach this weekend!

A very happy first anniversary to my handsome husband!

A Tybee Sunrise

2012-04-20T09:44:00.000-04:00

One of the funny things about time is that you rarely give it any consideration until it's limited. That's pretty much the only reason Brian was able to drag me out of bed on Saturday morning while it was still pitch black outside to sit on the beach at Tybee Island and watch the sunrise. Honestly, I'm not really a morning person...but I think it was worth it.

We capped off the beautiful sunrise with eggs and bacon at The Breakfast Club and spent the rest of the weekend being beach bums. It feels so strange to me that Brian and I spent the majority of our relationship apart before we got married. For so long, that was our normal; now, it feels anything but normal. Here's to hoping the next month flies by, so we can spend more days making the most of the time we have together.

Life Lately...

2012-04-13T13:52:00.001-04:00

Hi friends! Long time, no see!

Recently, I have been trying to be "in the moment" more and am doing my best to soak up time with my handsome husband before he leaves for deployment training. Here is what life has looked like lately:

I am so lucky that my sorority has brought me the forever-kind-of-friends, even though I've moved over 700 miles away. The trip from Baltimore to Savannah is not easy or inexpensive, and I am blessed to have friends who are willing to come visit me despite those things. Amber and Megan were here for almost a week, and we fit in lots of beach time, wonderful food, and relaxing! Amber wrote a much more detailed and eloquent blog post about the adventures of our Savannah Style Spring Break that you can read here. :)

My father-in-law also made the trip south to see our first home and spend some time with Brian before he leaves. Brian and his dad did manly things like shoot guns and eat barbecue. I joined them at Wiley's and enjoyed the best burnt ends ever (and I don't even particularly like barbecue!)

Having visitors makes me stop and appreciate how beautiful this part of the country is. I know that we are spending some precious years of our lives and our marriage here. Obviously, Brian's job means that we don't get much of a choice in where we're living, and it would be easy to be resentful about being away from our families and friends. But, without the Army's "help," we probably wouldn't have ever chosen to live in the Savannah area, and it has become close to our hearts in a very short period of time. Brian and I often talk about how we can see ourselves returning here, someday...

...not to mention the gorgeous weather let us spend Easter Sunday on the beach, after heading to church for our usual Saturday afternoon service.

Brian also celebrated his 26th birthday this past Tuesday, April 10th. The above picture is what happens when your wife is picture obsessed and makes you take a mandatory birthday picture to document being old. The below is what happens when you are too picky about said pictures and your husband thinks he's funny.

Brian's only had two requests for his birthday, and I am obviously an awesome wife because I made them happen. (That is actually false - they were easy requests.) The first was french toast for dinner (I made Lightened Up Crème Brûlée French Toast)...

...and the second was frozen yogurt for dessert. As a rule, I do not ever turn down dessert.

So that is what has been going on here...and I have a feeling I will be returning on a more regular basis very soon. :)