It's a Dog Tag Wife Life

Chambanachik Giveaway

2012-11-27T03:00:00.000-05:00

Hi friends ::waves vigorously::

I know I know, I keep saying I'll be back, and then I disappear for months. This time, I have a good reason, I got a new job! Yay for that but the extra commute and intensity of it hasn't let much time for anything else. I love it, don't get me wrong but it's challenging and hard but so very fulfilling.

Anyway, the real reason I'm here today is that my lovely friend Erika over at Chambanachik is doing a Christmas Giveaway like she did last year! 24 days of giveaways, how awesome is that! And guess what...today's my day to giveaway!!!

As you may know, I've got the little bath & body biz and I told Erika I'd love to participate. So head on over to see what the treat I have in store for y'all.

And maybe...just maybe...one day, I'll actually be back with a legitimate life update post. These past few months haven't left much room to breathe let alone blog :-)

Holiday Gift Guide from "We Took the Road Less Traveled"

2012-11-15T08:37:00.003-05:00

My LOVELY friend Casey over at We Took the Road Less Traveled has created a holiday gift guide to help you out this holiday season.

I just looked through the different shops and oh my gosh, there are some seriously gorgeous things over there. Not to mention...I'm being featured as well!!!

One of the best parts is that all the shops are offering discounts. How cool is that? A bunch of gifts all in one place AND for great prices. I think y'all should check them out. Plus, she's awesome and you should read her blog anyway and all her awesome adventures overseas. To see the Gift Guide, go here, and do it now!

::Brushes off Dust::

2012-07-13T11:06:00.001-04:00

Hey everyone!!! ::Waves furiously:: Sorry I have been MIA for what, like, 4 months. I do apologize. Life has been crazy busy! My full time job has been really busy. Inspiri has been taking off, plus a whole new product line has been very time consuming. Plus, due to some silly things I've done, I just wanted to take a bit of a hiatus. I can't say that I'll be blogging every day, but I will be trying to do better.

So how have y'all been doing? Good I hope. Let's see, what are some things that have been going on around here? Hmmm, well first, the hunny and I have been trying to spend a lot of time together. He's been traveling a bit and working late, so we're doing our best to spend the precious time we have together. Plus, I love that man even more because he built me a soap shop out in our garage. I love it and it keeps me super occupied. I love having a devoted space just for my stuff!

I've also been slowly going through the house organizing, decluttering, and purging so much stuff. I have a feeling there will be a large trip to Goodwill soon. Do you guys donate or do garage sales? I know a lot of our stuff won't necessary sell at a garage sale, but someone in need could probably use it.

Oh, I built a website, that was pretty cool, but really time consuming. You should head on over and give it some love http://www.inspiribody.com. Plus, if you want you can get our newsletter which always has a super awesome discount in it. I think this month's is the best yet, but I'll keep that as a surprise. In case you didn't know, all regular website/etsy purchases I have a coupon code for Military spouses! It's 10% off using MILSPOUSE10. Ok, I'll stop talking about it now, I can't help it, it's so fun for me.

Let's see, I'm also taking care of the house, the puppies, doing farmer's markets, and just trying to survive!!!! I promise I'll be back a little bit more now, but just wanted to pop in and say HEY!

Just Because...

2012-03-09T15:48:00.000-05:00

I've had so many stereotypes placed on me lately by family, acquaintances, coworkers, friends, etc. I just want to clear a few things up...

Just because I don't go to church every weekend does not mean I am not very spiritual.
Just because I'm a military spouse does not mean I'm super conservative.
Just because I'm good at my job does not mean I love it.
Just because I use reusable bags does not mean I'm an environmental nut.
Just because I stopped arguing with you does not mean I agree with you.
Just because I couldn't make an event does not mean I don't care.
Just because I make the hunny's lunch does not mean I'm subservient to him.
Just because we watch NASCAR does not mean we're rednecks.
Just because I don't cater my world around other people's children does not mean I'm anti-kid.
Just because I keep my mouth shut does not mean I don't have an opinion.
Just because I am slender does not mean I don't worry about my body.
Just because I prefer to buy organic does not mean I don't care about the cost of my food.
Just because I like to buy local & have my own business does not mean I am anti-corporations.
Just because I have a computer does not mean I'm going to sit around and be an @$$ because I'm not there in person.

Sorry, slight vent, slight response (not to the blogging world).

What's you biggest "Just because...."

Random Posts

2012-02-28T21:17:00.000-05:00

I haven't posted in a while. Things are just a little crazy around here. If you follow me on Twitter, I'm sure you know why (if you choose to follow me, write a little note in the comments so I know who you are). But there's so many things going on, I just sorta need to let a lot of it out.

1) I love my business. I just wish I could devote more time to it. Especially the experimentation with the new soap that I'm making. I want to spend all day in my kitchen.

2) My real job leaves me very drained because I want to help people (I work in marketing) but when they refuse to work with us and just want to berate us, I get frustrated. One day, my dream job, would be to do Inspiri full time.

3) The baby clock is still ringing like crazy. I still want to wait for some time, but I am looking forward to having them. Especially since one of my best friends & SIL are pregnant.

4) I love my dogs and that they've finally chilled out. Sitting on a couch being snuggled is about the best thing ever.

5) I got a really nice leather bound notebook from a company that wants us to pay them a TON of money for some program. They didn't brand the notebook at all. I decided that was a poor decision. If it were branded, every time I used it, I'd think of them. I threw out the other material and have no idea the name of the company.

6) After watching some of my favorite ABC Family shows, I am so stinking glad I'm no longer a teenager.

7) The hunny got me a gift of a pair of pajamas in an ACU pattern and across the butt, it says "Booty Camp". This is why I love him. I think I will keep him.

8) I hate laundry. A lot. More now than usual. And making beds, I really hate making beds.

Told you it was random. And mostly mundane, and not important. What type of random stuff has been on your mind?

Things I Hate to Hear - Milspouse Version

2012-02-18T20:46:00.000-05:00

I normally don't post a lot of military related stuff. I'm not the best resource, we don't live on post, we haven't had a PCS together, we've only been married 1 year (although together for over 4), I don't use Tricare, and besides him wearing a uniform and deploying, the rest of our life is fairly normal.

However, there are a few things that people say that I really can't stand because I'm a military spouse. And every one of these, I've actually had asked or said to me.

1) "Wow, he's been gone that long already? Time has really flown." Um, for you. I'm pretty sure that at one point during any deployment year, time starts to go backwards.

2) ::Complaining about husband going on a business trip:: "Well, you understand, it's just like your husband leaving." No, no it's not. Unless your husband is 9 time zones away, being shot at, sleeping on a cot, and gone for 12 months. You mean he's in Chicago, to take customers to a Bull's game? Yeah, not even close.

3) "There's a military discount, can we get that?" Happened when I went out to lunch with someone. First, I am not always on the lookout for military discounts. Yes, they're nice, but I'm not the service member. Also, since you're with me, you deserve that too? Huh?

4) "He's gone all the time, aren't you used to that by now?" Can't say that I am. Whether it's two weeks, two months, or a year, I don't think you ever like them being gone. I usually suck it up, but I have been known to complain now and again.

5) "Wow, I'm surprised you work. I didn't think most military wives did." ACTUALLY....most of the military wives I know are educated and are either looking for work or due to certain circumstances can't at the present time. Please don't stereotype them. There are some bases where it is not easy to get a job near or they know they'll only be there for 9 months. To me, it implies you think they are lazy. Also....many of them sell Pampered Chef, Scentsy, or have another Home Based Business. If you don't think that's work, you obviously can't think outside of the box.

6) "If you don't like the lifestyle, maybe you shouldn't have married him." ::Blank stare:: Yes, because I 100% can decide who I fell in love with. (PS, you told me 5 years ago that I'd be married to a guy in the military, who goes stock car racing as a hobby, and is a southern, I never would've believed you and laughed hysterically).

7) "Tell him to hurry home." If I had a nickle for everytime someone said this to me....I'd have at least $2. Because he has complete and utter control over when he comes home. It's totally up to him. No one relies on him. It's like he's on vacation or something.

I know there are more, but I just can't even stand to think of them anymore. What are your least favorite things that people say to you?

Facebook Status Updates...The Annoying Kind

2012-01-17T18:44:00.001-05:00

Do you have friends that post the same type of thing every time they post? I do. Some of them are fine. But there are others that make me want to block them. Let me elaborate on some of these bosters.

Also, please note, that this is a joke post. I see posts like these every day and they don't bug me one bit. It's when it's the same post day after day after day and they don't change.

The Unborn Baby
I have one (or three) of these people on my wall. Every post them make is in reference to their still-cooking child. Every one in a while is fine, but sometimes it gets old....and creepy. For example "We took baby Q shopping for her bedroom furniture. I stood in front of them and when she kicked, that's the one she chose." Or "Baby Q is hungry. She really wants a peanut butter and mozzarella sandwich."

Come to Jesus
I appreciate if you are religious. And have a strong faith. I think that's great. And these don't bother me, if they come once in a while, but when they post 8 times a day and each time it's a new bible verse, for every status update? Also, if I wanted to read the bible, I would, um, read the bible. And if they aren't verses, it's things of this nature "God is good! The food I was craving today was the special at the restaurant I'm work at tonight." or "God is watching for me! I couldn't find my keys this morning. I finally checked the coat I was wearing yesterday, and there they were. The faithful are blessed." I have a very strong faith, but to me, it is a VERY personal thing. But then, I also believe in free will. And that I lose my keys because I'm forgetful.

I hate Drama, but I'm a Drama Mama
EVERYONE has one of these. They are people who say they hate drama but then they post stuff like "Oh, my poor step kids. To have these terrible people around them, it is just messing with their head so much." They post these when they are FB friends with the Ex-Wife's family. Yeah, you really don't love drama.

My Kids are Better Than Your Kids
I'm all for loving on your kids and bragging about your kids, but it can be excessive. "Little Johnny cleaned his plate at dinner." Then in the comments "He ate 4 bites of chicken, 2 spoonfuls of peas, and 1/4 of a baked potato. He deserves a GIANT bowl of ice cream for dessert." Then "He ate all his ice cream. What a good eater!" I get being proud, but do we really need the play by play and why they're the bestsest kids in the whole world.

Political Party
I love politics, however, I don't talk about it because it is such a hot topic. And apparently anymore if I don't have the same opinion as you, I'm an idiot and have been living under a rock. Or have a rock for a brain. But you know the ones I'm talking about. The ones that post about their candidate, why their party is the only party worth voting for, and video after video about their favorite candidate speaking. Or their favorite social issues. My personal favorites include those articles about abortion, war, and whether or not a boy who thinks he's a girl can be included in Girl Scouts.

The Flasher (aka They Reveal All)
This particular person lays their whole life on FB for all to see. "Ugh, I have the worst stomach bug ever. I've been in the bathroom for 3 days straight." Or "I can't believe my brother's wife's mother's new husband hit on my sister at the wedding." Or "So happy that my PAP smear came back normal!!! That weird discharge was making me so nervous." There are some things that should just not be on FB.

Shrouded in Mystery...But Not Really
Perhaps my most favorite. All of their status updates are shrouded in mystery. And then you find out what it is in the comments, about a week later. "I can't tell you what's going on right now, but we just need prayers." Then "Thank you for the prayers, can't tell you what's going on, but if you know my family, you can talk to them." Then "This is the worst day ever! I can't believe everything that is going on. Can't talk about it right now." If you can't talk about it, then why are you talking about it?

Negative Nancy
This person never seems to have a good day. Everything is always going wrong. Always. No positive stuff. Saw one like this other day "My two girls are sick, and my boy wanted something the minute I woke up. Now it's snowing. Stay out of this mama's way, it's a bad morning." This same type of poster can also be the Flasher, but only the bad stuff that's going on.

The Self (business) Promoter
I'm am totally for having your own business, whether it's Pampered Chef, Scentsy, or your own business that you created. But sometimes...well "Have you checked out my FB Page?" 1 hour later "Oh my gosh, I have 7 new fans on my FB page, Have you liked it yet?" 30 minutes later..."WE're having a sale in my shop, check it out!" Then another 30 minutes later "Yay, made a sale! Will you be the next?"

What are your ~~least~~ favorite type of posters?

Thank You Thank You Thank YOU

2012-01-03T15:41:00.000-05:00

I was involved in Wife of a Sailor's Secret Santa, which is always fun. And my Secret Santa, the lovely Navy Wife Chronicles, deserves massive kudos.

I was out of town for a while and it was crazy before I left so I am just now thanking her for the Lindt chocolates (They are my go-to happy food), the LOVELY Marilyn Monroe ornament (Have I mentioned my strange love of old movie stars such as Marilyn, Audrey, and Jimmy?), and the wine. Oh what an evening will be had, wine and chocolates. I may even have to bust out "Some Like it Hot".

I just wanted to say thank you so much for the lovely lovely lovely gift. It completely made my day.

So did the zebra print duct tape that held the box together :-)

Leggings? Yay or Nay?

2012-01-02T14:57:00.000-05:00

I used to be adamantly against leggings. I wore them for most of the 90s. Then I got made fun of because everyone at my new school (we moved to a different state) made fun of me in 8th grade. Yeah, make fun of a 13 year old girl, where she has no friends, and doesn't want to be there anyway. So leggings were forever kept out of my closet.

And then they became fashionable again. I wouldn't wear them because they reminded me of childhood and half of the times I saw them being worn, they just didn't look good. I did think they looked cute with tunics or under a dress or something, but I didn't want to get them.

Then this Christmas came. My mom got me a pair of black leggings and a very long sweater as a gift. The sweater, I absolutely love. But I was a bit nervous that I'd look ridiculous and like a child. But my mom has been trying to get me to wear them for a couple years now. I decided I would wear the outfit for Christmas dinner.

And I liked how I looked. It was cute. And most importantly, it was comfortable! Luckily, the sweater she got was more like a tunic and so my butt wasn't there for the whole world to see. I have to say, I love the long shirts and tunics that have been popular. I have the hardest time finding shirts that are long enough to cover my belly & back because of the way I'm built. I also have some super cute dresses that I love, but they're sorta short, leggings would solve the problem. And now, I'm reconsidering leggings.

But I keep hearing so many people say that leggings aren't pants. They're just over-glorified tights. And it once again makes me self conscious. Don't get me wrong, I'm comfortable in my skin, but I don't like people snickering that I look ridiculous. I'm thinking about getting a couple more pairs in other colors. I have lots of long shirts because they make me feel more comfortable and they'd be great with leggings. But I'm still on the fence.

What do you think? Should leggings go away for good, or do you think they're OK with certain outfits?

2012 Life Goals

2012-01-01T16:43:00.000-05:00

I don't particularly love to say Resolution. Sometimes, it feels to me like you want to do it for one year and then the next year, they can go out the window. I prefer to think of them as life goals that I will work on that year.

I usually skip the typical ones: Save Money, Work Out More, Keep the House Clean, Cook Healthier. I should be doing those anyway and I know it. I always try to come up with something I need to work on in my life. Last year's, well, that didn't go completely awesome. My goal was to complain less. And I still do it. A lot. I'm continuing to work on it, but I feel it's something I will always struggle with.

This year, I have two goals. These are two things I want to improve in my life for the future to provide me with a better life.

1) Stop making excuses.

I say this because I am a master of excuses. I don't clean the dishes right away? "I can take care of that later tonight after I've relaxed." I skip the gym? "Well, I'll go tomorrow." I hate when someone else gives me an excuse, I need to stop giving them to myself.

2) Think, then speak.

I have a terrible habit of being a blurter. You know the people, the say the first thing that pops into their head, without thinking of who it might hurt or how it may make them look. Yeah, I'm one of them. I'm trying to hold my tongue a little. I just want to recognize what I'm going to say, instead of sounding like an idiot or offending someone. It won't stop me altogether, but I just want to be more cognizent of what comes out of my mouth.

So how about you? What are your life goals for 2012?

I'm Not Staring, I'm Just Surprised

2011-12-28T21:21:00.000-05:00

After a little encouragement (including liquid encouragement) I decided to write this blog post. I am expecting to get negative backlash from it and I'm ok with that. But I really just want to put my perspective/point of view out there about a topic I have seen a bit in the news lately. One article relating to a sports figure and another to a store I'm sure we all shop at.

Breastfeeding in Public.

Let me give my point of view and please read the whole thing before going off on me. This is just my perspective and how I feel. I'm not trying to stand on a soapbox and tell people what to do or what their rights are. I just want to share my opinion after seeing several articles in the past couple of days.

Let me start by saying that I'm not a mom yet, but hope to be one day and I plan on breastfeeding, willing that everything goes well. Some people can't (I have several friends who can't/couldn't and not due to their lack of wanting or trying to) and I understand that. I was formula fed and I believe I did turn out ok. I would like to breastfeed because I know that is the best thing for the child, they get the best nutrition, it's a wonderful bonding experience, and does lots of other beneficial things for both mom and baby.

And babies will be hungry when they are hungry. And they usually need to be fed right away. I know this because I am the last of my friends to be pregnant or have a baby. When you're the last of your kind, you learn a lot about these things, whether you want to or not. Babies have to be fed and they need the best nutrition, this is not the question at stake.

Breastfeeding in public is a hot topic. That's why I was nervous about posting my perspective. It is a law in many states that women have the right to breastfeed in public and it is exempt from indecent exposure. I agree with this. I've seen many women who breastfeed in public. As someone who does not breastfeed yet, or have children, I have to be honest, it can be a bit surprising. And can be a bit jarring if it's done in a very indiscreet way. Let me give you an example.

I was at a museum a couple of years ago. It was a cultural museum rather than art with many exhibits so you had to walk around things. Not that that matters exactly. Well, as I was turning the corner to look at a different part of an exhibit, there was a bench, and a lady was breastfeeding on it. She had a button up blouse and had every button undone, with her front clipping bra undone, shirt pulled around, and her entire breast in plain view. Not discreet at all. In the middle of the museum, entirely exposed, in front of an exhibit. It shocked me and took me a second to compose myself, mostly because I was just not expecting to turn the corner & see so much.

Maybe it was the best way for her to do it, but for me, as someone who has never done it myself, it just makes me uncomfortable. Not because I disapprove of it, that's 100% not true, but it's just not something I am familiar with. I feel as though I've walked in on something very personal that I should not be privy to. Also, the way she had the child positioned I could see most of her areola. And yes, seeing that much of a complete stranger, 2 feet from me, made me uncomfortable.

I've also been out to dinner with friends who had a 6 week old (they were PCSing from Hawaii and we picked them up at the airport). While at dinner, their baby needed to eat. Mom pulled out a small blanket, positioned it over one shoulder started feeding, while we were eating, and we all forgot that she was feeding. It wasn't a big deal. No one gave her odd looks, no one commented, no one said anything. She was involved in our conversation, drank her water, laughed with us, made jokes, and talked about their trip. But she didn't make a big deal of feeding. Baby ate, we ate. All was good.

Maybe it was because her & her husband are friends of my husband's (I met her for the first time that day) that made it didn't bother me. Maybe it's because she didn't make it known to the whole restaurant what she was about to do. Maybe it was because she did it in a manner that she knew what was going on, and taking care of her baby and was relaxed. But it didn't phase me one bit. We had a lovely dinner with them, technically, all three of them.

I plan on breastfeeding, like I said, and I may change my mind once the baby is here (BTW I'm not preggers yet) but that's something I don't plan on sharing with a lot of people when they are visiting my home. I don't feel like I would be comfortable doing it in front my of my mother-in-law, or even my own mother. I would happily go up to the nursery to do it so baby & I are both comfortable. Even if friends who have breastfed who have no problem with seeing me do it, it just wouldn't make me comfortable. Maybe with one of the "private diners" but not with my robe open for the whole world to see. But that's me. That's me personally. I don't expect everyone else to be like that. I know plenty of women who BF in front of their whole family. And that's fine. But that's them, not me.

As someone who isn't accustomed, yes, it is a bit surprising, and can be uncomfortable to see in public. In the Kasey Kahne situation, his comments were a bit harsh, but some of the responses he got, were even more harsh. Calling him a redneck, bottle-fed, inbreed is going to the same level. I don't believe he is anti-breastfeeding, but seeing a woman walk down the center of an aisle while grocery shopping with her shirt open, yes, it's probably not what you expect to see when you're going to pick up a brownie mix. In the Target situation, she was entitled to feed in the clothing section. I don't believe the employees handled it correctly, but if it's their policy to ask a nursing mother if they'd like to use a fitting room, I don't necessarily think they're being "anti-breastfeeding". They weren't asking her to sit in a dirty restroom. Now THAT is completely inappropriate and unsanitary.

Just as some nursing mothers would expect people to respect them to not stare, gawk, roll their eyes, or make comments, I think that on the other hand, they should respect that it may make some others uncomfortable and it may garner a few stares, and not because they're anti-breastfeeding, but because it's something that not everyone is used to seeing. There are plenty of ways to be discreet. I've known people who purposefully draw attention to themselves while they're feeding, which I don't understand. That's like taking a 4 year old out, standing up in the restaurant, and saying "HEY, GUESS WHAT!? I'M NOW USING A SPOON TO FEED MY KID HIS SOUP." I'm not saying throw a receiving blanket over the kids head, because I know a lot of people are very opposed to that, but whipping a whole boob out and having the entire thing exposed will draw some attention. Even from other breastfeeding mothers.

I respect women who choose to breastfeed exclusively, it's time consuming and tiring. I also respect women who breastfeed in public, discreetly. You don't make a big deal about it, most people won't even notice. Maybe I'm a prude, but I'd probably go to my car to do it (again, could change my mind when I have children). I don't think people are opposed to seeing it if they stare for a moment, it's just not what they're used to seeing when they're picking up clementines. It's natural to hold a look a little longer at something uncommon. And guys are staring, well, they're probably just staring at boob anyway.

Winner Winner Kikkoman Dinner

2011-12-12T21:39:00.001-05:00

The winner of the $25 commissary gift cards is.....

Chantel

Congratulations! I'll be contacting you shortly to get your information to ship it.

Going to the Gym, for Everyone?

2011-12-08T20:10:00.000-05:00

If you've been following along, particularly on Twitter, you'll know I've been working out lately. A lot. And believe it or not, I'm not going to lose weight.

That sounds like a humble brag (NCIS: LA reference anyone?) but it's not. I actually take after my dad. He weighed less than 100 lbs when he graduated high school. Let's just say I weighed more than he did when I graduated. And when I get stressed, I lose weight. I lost 10 lbs before my wedding and have finally put 12 back on since then. I'm actually trying to put on muscle. And I want an ass like one of the Victoria Secret's Angels (no joke). Also, from what I understand, if you are in good shape when you get pregnant, it helps you bounce back afterwards (um, BTW the whole baby thing is still several years away). I really hate when say things to me like "But you're so thin, you don't even need to work out."

I'm not working out to lose weight, I'm working out for my health. Especially for women, it's good for you as you age, it's good for you bones, your joints, and your all around health like cholesterol and heart disease. Plus, recently, I've been feeling better. I'm sleeping better, my appetite is really healthy, my tummy is feeling good, and my mood has improved (endorphins anyone?).

Although, losing weight is a benefit, too. Exercise is a natural appetite suppressant. Don't believe me? Google it. However, you should have a mix of carbs & protein within 30 minutes of working out. It helps your muscles and body recover so you aren't as sore. I usually have a protein shake from Bolthouse Farms, which are super yummy, as soon as I get home. I haven't been nearly as sore after my really hard workouts. I also don't feel nearly as hungry. I feel like I could entirely skip dinner, but I don't, I need those calories.

So next time you want to skip the gym and just eat less, hit the treadmill for 20 minutes. It will make you less hungry and you'll deserve that extra cookie!

A Kikkoman Review & Commissary Gift Card Giveaway

2011-12-04T17:20:00.000-05:00

When I get an e-mail from a company asking for a review, I don't always respond. Especially if I've seen the same thing on 7 other blogs. And no offense to some online companies, but I really don't want to do a review on a product I've never seen or used, just to get something free.

However, the lovely people at Kikkoman contacted me about getting some samples and testing out their products. I love Asian food, so I thought, why not? I'll get a few packets of soy sauce, maybe a teriyaki sauce, this'll be cool. I was not expecting what came in the mail.

From Left to Right: Panko Bread Crums, Kara-Aga Coatin, Original Pearl Soy Milk, Chocolate Soy Milk, Teriyaki Sauce, Original Kikkoman Soy Sauce. Plus the world's cutest duck and a Kikkoman spoon rest.

Yeah, that's a lot!!!! In case you can't tell, it a large bottle of their traditional soy sauce (the only kind I've ever used), Teriyaki Sauce, Chocolate Soy Milk, Regular Soy Milk, Kara-Age Coating, Panko Bread crumbs, plus a sweet little spoon rest and about the cutest rubber duck ever! I was even more excited when I realized they sent me this great little booklet of recipes to help me use all of these products. I really wanted to try the turkey brine they suggested for Thanksgiving, but since I was hosting my parents & my in laws, I decided to go the traditional route However, I did try several of their recipes. Here's what I tried.

Old Fashioned Mac n' Cheese

I have to be honest, I was really skeptical about using soy milk in my mac n' cheese. My dad used to drink the stuff when I was a kid and couldn't stand the stuff, but that's what the recipe called for and that's what they sent me. I also used the Panko bread crumbs on the top. I have to say, I was REALLY surprised at how good it was! It was creamy, and rich. The recipe says it makes 4 servings, but in my opinion, it's WAY more than that. Also, it is really rich. Personally I would use it as a side dish rather than a main dish. I also tweaked the recipe a tiny bit and added garlic powder because that's how I usually make my mac n' cheese. But it was super easy and I'll definitely make it again! I actually really preferred the Panko bread crumbs to the traditional ones I usually use. The texture and flavor was great.

Ingredients
4 Cups Cooked Macaroni
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 1/2 cups Cheddar cheese, cubed (I used shredded)
1 1/2 cups Jack cheese, cubed (I used shredded)
1 cup Kikkoman Panko Bread Crumbs
1 teaspoon seasoned salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 eggs, beaten
2 cups Kikkoman Pearl Originial Organic Soymilk
Optional - 1/2 tsp garlic powder

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Combine macaroni, cheese, and seasonings. Place in an 8 x31-inch baking dish. Combine eggs and soymilk and pour over macaroni. Sprinkle with Panko Bread crumbs (that have been combined with butter) evenly over the top. Bake 40 minutes until browned on the crust.

Kara-age Chicken Sliders
Next I made the Kara-age chicken sliders. OH. MY. GOSH. Delicious. And quick and easy!!! The Kara-age has two 3 oz packets so you don't have to use the whole box at once. I actually used half of one bag, it was just the right amount, but I also cut the recipe in half for just us. When I opened the package, it was a very strong smell of ginger. I was a little nervous that the chicken would taste really strong of ginger. But it wasn't. They were delicious. They fried up nicely, had a great color, and the flavor was really good. These would be great for a family. I'm sure kids would love them too! It suggests Sriracha tarter sauce, I just used mayo and they were still delish!

6 chicken thighs, boneless/skinless (I actually used a chicken breast, and it worked just as well, although I did use a meat tenderizer to thin them out a little bit)
1 package Kikkoman Kara-Age Coating Mix
4 tablespoons cooking oil
12 dinner rolls, split
2 avocados, sliced
*Sriracha Tartar Sauce

Cut chicken thighs in half and rinse. Place thighs in a plastic bag and pour in the Kara-Age coating mix. Shake to cover. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and fry the chicken thighs until they are browned on both sides and done, about 5-7 minutes, drain. Place chicken thighs on the dinner rolls, top with avocados and *Srirach tartar sauce: 1/2 cup tartar sauce, 1 tablespoon Kikkoman Sriracha sauce, blend well.

Yes, I totally had tater tots and red wine with these.

There were a couple of other recipes that I wanted to try like the Panko Crusted Mashed Potato Cakes and the Crunchy Topping Coffee Cake. The best part, the lovely people at Kikkoman gave me a $25 gift card for the commissary to give away to one of my fabulous readers!!!! To make it a little more fun, and also so you all can see the fabulous recipes Kikkoman has, hop on over to http://www.kikkomanusa.com and check out the fabulous recipes over there. You must follow my blog and also tell me what recipe sounds the most fabulous to you in the comments, and you're entered. Simple as that!!!

I will pick a winner next Sunday afternoon, 12/11. This time of year, we can all use a little extra cash, especially for groceries. So thank you to the folks at Kikkoman for providing me with their awesome products. I can't wait to try more of the recipes and I hope you try them out too!

MilSpouse Friday Fill-In #65

2011-12-02T22:08:00.000-05:00

I haven't done this in a few weeks, but hop over to visit Wifey

1. If I could be on any reality TV show, I’d want to be on What Not to Wear. I could REALLY use a new wardrobe.
2. This past Thanksgiving was interesting. It was my first year hosting.
3. I’m looking forward to December because I get to go home. I haven't been at home for Christmas in 3 years and a bunch of my old friends will be in town also!
4. One thing I’d like to accomplish this month is switching over my clothes, clearing out my closets, and hopefully donating a bunch of stuff for the holiday season.
5. To me, winter is a little too long. However, it's a time for snuggling, warm feelings, our anniversary, and to me, is a bit about love. Silly I know, but I'm a romantic at heart.

chambanachik Giveaway!!!!

2011-11-29T09:34:00.000-05:00

Hey bloggy friends, as many of you know, I started my own business this year. And today (yay!) I am the featured giveaway on my lovely friend chambanachik's blog. She's doing giveaways everyday for, well, a lot of days. You should pop on over and check them out. Especially today's, you know, since it's some awesome holiday themed soap from me. Holiday, you know, like Candy Cane's and Hot Cocoa :-)

Visit her blog here, you'll love her as much as I do.

You Earn What You Get

2011-11-28T22:06:00.000-05:00

My best friend (besides the hunny) is a teacher. I have a lot of friends that are teachers. I respect them and what they do. I couldn't do it. I'd probably try to throw a kid out the window. I don't have that much patience. And there's another thing I would have a really hard time with being a teacher: Parents.

In line at the grocery store I was eavesdropping on the lady in line in front of me (not hard when she was 2 feet away and talking loud) talking about how she doesn't go a day without getting an e-mail or phone call from a parent. She had a parent yell at her for giving her kid a D. There had been 5 homework assignments since the start of the marking period and he hadn't turned in one. Yet, it was her fault that the kid was earning a D.

And that was something that broiled up in me again. I don't ever remember parents in my day (yeah, like it was that long ago) calling into the school to yell at teachers. I'm sure it happened, but I hear it more and more from my friends. I know my parents didn't do it. I was like a dog with my tail between my legs if I got a bad grade.

This is one of those things that irks the heck out of me. A child EARNS a grade. The teacher doesn't just GIVE it to them. When I got a C, I was in some serious trouble that I did that poorly, and I knew it. The teacher wasn't against me giving me a bad grade. I knew that's what I got. It's not like the teacher says, you know what, I don't like Little Johnny here, even though he's gotten 100% on all his papers and does great on tests, but I still dislike him, so I think his grade will be a B-.

Yes, there are difficult teachers, but they're difficult to everyone, not just one student. I'm hoping that when I'm a parent, I remember this and don't call up my kids teachers and ream them out because I don't like the grade my kid earned.

Describing the situation perfectly:

Not Sure the Source, but I've seen it several times

Yeah. That's what it sounds like.

Thankful for So Much

2011-11-24T20:56:00.000-05:00

There have been many posts today (or over the last few days) on what we are thankful for. I wanted to add in. Here is my top 10 list of things I'm most thankful for this Thanksgiving.

10.) A healthy & safe family & friends - I'm truly blessed that all those who I care about are safe and healthy on this day. It gives me something to be honestly thankful for.

9.) An amazing husband - Who lets me be me, supports me whole heartedly, makes me laugh and is the best guy I know.

8.) Two awesome dogs - I never knew what unconditional love was until I had pups.

7.) Fabulous bloggy friends - You guys keep me sane. And laughing. And are there for me when I'm down and I just can't tell anyone else. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

6.) A healthy SIL & soon to be neice/nephew - In about 25 weeks, I will be an aunt for the first (and perhaps only) time. I'm SO excited.

5.) A job - I know this may sound silly, but after being laid off a couple of years ago, I am so thankful to be working.

4.) My new gym - I'm feeling so much better recently now that I'm working out again. I can't wait to be in awesome shape.

3.) Our military - for those that sacrifice so much so that we can live in a free land.

2.) My Kindle - lame? Yes. True? Absolutely

1.) Living in the US - This may not be the perfect country, but I'm not going to arrested for saying that. I can pray to whichever deity I choose, go to school, leave my parents house, etc.

My Body is a Temple, but I Don't Want To Know About Yours

2011-11-21T22:18:00.000-05:00

I have dubbed this year "The Year of the Baby". All of my friends are either trying, pregnant, or have had a baby this year. I take that back. We have two sets of couple friends (in real life) that don't have children or aren't trying. That's about it. No joke.

As many of you know, I also am having severe problems with putting the snooze button on my baby clock. I have gone from holding a child at arms length to wanting to cuddle them and wanting my own. Uh, one day. Not tomorrow. Still not ready, but getting there. There are still things that freak me out (PREGNANCY, never sleeping again, no more money, intimate evenings with my husband, or spontaneous weekends) but I also look forward to things with a family. Camping trips, sporting events, help with homework (I'm odd, I know), teaching them about things we love.

And yes, there are things that are unpleasant, fussy babies, potty training, spit up, sickness, and a multitude more of things I can't even imagine. But I accept that.

HOWEVER, when pregnancy comes along, I will be interested in what my body is doing. I find anatomy and how the body works interesting. I'm also one of those people, however, that doesn't like to hear about illnesses or personal body things. If it's with me, I'm interested. Someone else, I'm grossed out. It's just a weird quirk of mine. A cut on me doesn't bother me, someone else and I'm halfway to passing out. I also don't really like to talk about mine, just like to learn more about it.

With that said, (my friends on blogs it's not as big of a problem, surprisingly) but there are some things my friends IRL use to describe their pregnancy that I don't really want to hear about. Here are some of those: cervical mucus, placenta, hemorrhoids, mucus plug, vaginal canal, milk ducts, discharge... need I go on?

Maybe, one day, when I'm pregnant, I'll be will to talk about this, but having my friend, who has had two children now, talk about her placenta dropping and her cervical mucus increasing, I just about vomited. Not being mean, but the mental image as too much for me and I had to ask her to stop. Maybe she can talk about that stuff with her other mommy friends, but for someone who hasn't been through it, it's a little overwhelming.

Actually, with blogs, most people give a disclaimer & I just skip over that post. So my bloggy loves, it actually hasn't been a problem.

Just remind me, one day, when I'm pregnant, not to talk about my mucus plug. I'm pretty sure it wouldn't be on Emily Post's list of approved dinner topics.

Just Don't Burn Down the House

2011-11-19T21:46:00.000-05:00

Every time the hunny he leaves, he gives me a list of things that need to be finished while he's gone (yes, I have a "Honey-do" List". He also asks once thing of me, "I love you, hunny, have a good time. And while I'm gone, please don't burn the house down." It's sort of a joke, with just a touch of truth. In case you haven't learned, I'm a bit of a klutz. I also have a tendency to get distracted from things and wander away.

Well, since I started making soap, that's one of the big things. "I'm making a new batch of soap this weekend, hunny." "Ok, just don't burn down the house." At this point it was a joke. Most of what I had done up until now was melting a base in the microwave. There was no serious danger. That is, until last night.

Last night, I decided to delve into the world of Cold Process soap making. Have you seen Fight Club? You know how they make their own soap? Yeah, that's what I'm talking about. Well, the scary thing about making your own soap is the lye. Also known as Sodium Hydroxide. It's a caustic substance and is used as a drain cleaner. Yeah, it's a bit scary. If your ingredients get mixed wrong, you could create a lye volcano. And it could eat through countertops and skin. That's why you wear gloves and goggles while doing this. So the whole "Don't burn the house down" thing became a bit more relevant.

Although, I have to say, last night, I safely made my very first batch of soap completely from scratch last night. I can't tell you how nervous I was using they lye. But it wasn't bad, although, after a random fume hit me, I will definitely be mixing the lye & water outside. I'd like to keep my lungs in tact, thank you very much.

The soap I made was a mix of olive oil, coconut oil, and avocado oil, so hopefully once it cures several weeks from now, the thought is that it'll be super gentle because it has a ton of olive oil. These next 6 weeks will be very long until I can test it.

Since the hunny is away this weekend, I was happy to report to him today that I used lye and I did NOT burn the house down. As we're getting ready to hang up, his last words to me were "Ok hunny, I love you. Just make sure you don't burn down the house." Happily, today we still have a fully in tact, standing home!

I'm back, I hope

2011-11-12T16:40:00.000-05:00

Hey friends! I'm sorry I have gone missing for what, one, two, 7 months? That's what it feels like. I've been so unbelievably busy. I've been busy working and getting Inspiri Body up and running. And to all of you that have helped by wanting samples, or volunteering to be testers, thank you so much!

Over the summer, work sucked. You know, the full time job I go to in order to support my own business :-) It has gotten much better, but it was just really draining. Uh, and my parents were here for 3 weeks. That can get draining too.

I've also recommitted myself to getting in shape. If you've been following me on Twitter (@DogTagWifeLife) you'll know I've joined a new gym. I was frustrated with my old one because I was trying to train for a race, yet every time I would go to the gym, ever treadmill (all 4 of them) were full. And I was fed up. So I decided to check out the brand new gym across town. Yes, I have to drive 20 minutes instead of 5, but oh my goodness, it is so worth it! This week alone (I joined on Tuesday) I took a yoga class and tried Zumba for the first time. Besides the fact that I'm pretty sure half of the local university's dance team was there and I looked like I was attacking invisible flies, I enjoyed it. Next week, I'm trying out spinning and going to get back into Body Pump. I want to be in the best shape of my life. Now's the time to do it.

I even competed (if you can call it that) in an 8k run this morning. I haven't run, except once, since October. My goal was to finish in under 1:10 which would have been a 14 minute mile. I finished in 1:06:36 and was really excited about that. It didn't hurt that the last 1/4 of a mile was all down hill, and I let gravity do it's job. Luckily, I didn't have another incident like the shopping cart in the parking lot.

Anywho....that's what's been going on here. And enough of my random babbling. I will hopefully have more time to write. I know you all have missed my Klutzy, cooking, random story self. But no worries, I actually have something very cool coming up. I got a very neat package in the mail today and can't wait to use it, show off, and have a giveaway.

Also, how do you all feel about a little giveaway from Inspiri Body around Christmas time? A present for yourself or someone else?

Milspouse Friday Fill-In #59

2011-09-23T15:17:00.000-04:00

Join up with Wifey for another fun round of Milspouse Friday Fill In.

My favorite thing that happened this week was the awesome packages I received this week. The books I got and the new stuff for my business are awesome!
Find a penny, pick it up and all day long you’ll have someone else's dirty penny.
Autumn is officially here and my favorite part of the season is the cool weather, the clothes, apple cider, orchards, crisp air, smell of fall leaves. I LOVE fall.
One of the things I’d like to do before winter arrives is take a hike through one of the beautiful forests around here.
I –would– be willing to participate in MilSpouse Secret Santa.

Thanks for stopping by. And I promise, one of these days I'll be posting again. I have been so unbelievable busy. My business is official, I've been setting up my "accounting" system, making products for two shows in November, as well as planning an open house. I think I have activities every weekend between now and after Thanksgiving. Yikes!

Hope you all are doing well. I haven't fallen off the planet, just fallen into a giant vat of soap :-)

2011-09-16T15:29:00.000-04:00

You know the drill, visit Wifey

1. Right now, our weather is sunny, a little breezy, and a high of 65, but what I’d really like is for this weather to stick around!
2. Sometimes I like to let my hair down and put on comfy clothes, blast the country music, sing at the top of my lungs, and slide around on the hardwood floors.
3. Mommy Rambles made a post about heroes… my hero is parents, including my own. They aren't perfect but they try their best to be the best parents they can. And the hunny, all of our military, police, firefighters, etc for they do something I NEVER could do.
4. It’s a weird combination, but I swear potato chips ON sandwiches are a perfect pair!
5. Some may see the glass half empty and others may see it half full, but I see the glass as having more room, pour a little more vino!

3653 Days

2011-09-11T16:56:00.002-04:00

I've really been debating about posting today. I've seen so many other post. A lot of people say they were in middle or high school. A few in college. Some understood the gravity of the day immediately, others didn't understand until years later. I can honestly say 9/11 shaped my adulthood, in more ways than one.

It was the beginning of the 3rd week of my freshman year of college. I had just left home and had a hard time with it. I had a great time in high school and was nervous about leaving. But I was just settling in. I was starting to like college.

My roommate had a class at 9, mine didn't start until 12. But I was still getting up at a decent hour, my alarm would go off around 8:30 and I'd get out of bed around 9. I was listening to the news in my loft around 8:45 as my roomie was getting ready to leave. I heard about the first WTC crash and said something to her. She was running late so she didn't pay much attention. I groggily got up and started to watch CNN. I was wearing penguin print boxers and a yellow cheer tank top.

I started watching as I munched on some cereal and about dropped my spoon when I saw the second plane hit. That's when the fear hit me. And then I became numb. Very, very numb. It was like out of a movie. It couldn't really be happening, could it? I went to check on my friends. One of them was so upset, she was wearing her I <3 NY t-shirt. TVs were on everywhere, but other than the buzz of them, there was almost no noise. I went outside, no one was out walking around campus, our classes were cancelled.

I found my journal from then (I have an entry from everyday since I was a senior in high school). They were calling it "America Under Attack". I was upset about one of my close friend's birthday being ruined. I went home to spend time with friends & family (I lived 45 minutes away). There was no one on the roads and gas priced had spiked.

If you told me 10 years ago that I'd be married to someone who defends our country, I wouldn't believe you. But I am so thankful for all of the men and women who serve our country, whether it's in the military, as a reservist, firefighter, police officer, or other job that protects us. As a nation, we can never forget the events of that fateful day. They've changed so many things. We've been at war, our security has changed, we look over our shoulders at people who we never would've thought twice about before. But we were also united. We were patriotic, resilient, undefeated.

And you know what, because of it, we still are.

MilSpouse Friday Fill-In #57

2011-09-09T09:39:00.000-04:00

It's been a while since I've done one. But make sure you join Wifey on the fun.

1. My plans for Labor Day included absolutely nothing but what really happened was dinner with friends on Friday, a pool party on Sunday, and wine tasting and a dinner with friends on Monday!
2. Call me crazy, but sometimes I just need to take an hour long shower and let all the crap of everyday life wash away..
3. One of the funniest things I’ve seen lately is walking around town and watching two teenagers making google eyes at each other then walking straight into a lamp post.
4. It’s strange, but food out of the pantry drives me crazy while the food in the pantry is a totally disorganized and hard to find is perfectly fine with me!
5. One, two, buckle my shoe… three, four this summer weather is a bore! (I can't wait until fall)