The Young Retiree

Hello! Are You Still Out There?

2011-12-23T21:03:00.000-08:00

As I prepare for 2012 I am updating my business and blog! I unsuccessfully tried Wordpress for a while and am back to blogger, but not here friends! There are still about 180 official followers over here and I am hoping you will hop over to my new blog by clicking here! I have decided blogger is a better fit for me, and this will only be changing one more time: if I ever decide to go with my own domain.

In the meantime I am excited for the things that can happen for me in 2012 and don't want you to miss a single beat!

Cuddles and Kisses,
The Mrs.

How to be a Follower

2011-07-26T18:25:00.000-07:00

That's right kids, I think I know for sure how you can follow my new blog! "New Blog?" Oh, if you missed the announcement I have made the move to Wordpress and think it's my new home! I am currently hosting a giveaway of a box of my favorite things! I have gotten a few comments that people are unsure how to follow me over there. My posts automatically pop up on my facebook and twitter, so those are always good options. If you want me in your google reader though, I think this is how:

Step 1: From your blogger dashboard, you are going to scroll on down to where all the blogs you follow are listed.

Step 2: Click the "add" button [it will be down right next to the "manage" button]

Step 3: Add: http://theyoungretiree.wordpress.com

Step 4: VOILA! I am in your reading list and I think your google reader as well!

Happy blogging friends! I'll catch you over on the wordpress :D

Cuddles and Kisses,
The Mrs.

Moving On Over

2011-07-15T12:38:00.000-07:00

Well friends, as we prepare for the weekend, I've been readying a Wordpress blog. WHAT? That is correct, I'm making the switch over to The Young Retiree on Wordpress.

I am all too new with the website and am learning as I go. I don't know how to make a button, so if you are in the know and could share some info with me, that would be AWESOME! I want it to look like that picture up there of the flippy floppies.

I also don't know how to follow all of you :( I will be using blogger to follow you all until I figure it out- so even though the blog is active, I'll be posting over on Wordpress. If you wish to continue following me, I think you just have to add the url: http://www.theyoungretiree.wordpress.com/ into your subscriptions. I'll learn how to reply to comments, and figure everything out. I think my new home is over on wordpress though. See you over there where I'll be hosting my FAVORITE THINGS giveaway next week :D
Cuddles and Kisses,
The Mrs.

She's Gone Country

2011-07-14T15:23:00.000-07:00

When I think of California I think of waves, waxing a board, and watching out for sting rays. I do not think of the rodeo. Last night hubs and I saw a commercial for a rodeo coming to southern California! We looked at each other and knew we needed to check it out! I'm only from Virginia- so I'm not exactly what you would call "Git R Dun" country, but I think it would be fun to see the rodeo live!

Today we went "redneck shopping" to get our western wear and prepare to look a little more legit when we go. Hubs got an "authentic western style" button down shirt. At least that's what the tag says. He also got himself a belt with one of the more medium sized huge buckles, which is also interchangeable. "Ooh-ee mayn!"

I got myself a reasonably priced cowgirl hat and my very first pair of boots! They are SO super comfortable!

Captured by the talented photographer: Hubs

Then of course the jean skirt and a pretty cute plaid shirt via Target completed the look for me. Oh, and I almost forgot! At Boot Barn I got the cutest necklace and earring set: horse shoes! I am ready to hit the country bars and boot scoot boogie, y'all! Yee-haw :D
Cuddles and Kisses,
The Mrs.

What I Love About Small Town Living

2011-07-13T19:08:00.000-07:00

When we moved to Fallbrook we instantly fell in love with the small town feel of it. We're within driving distance to the city, but we're sharing the land with horses and chickens out here. One of the best things about small town life is all of the local places to dine. Sure, there's your fast food places and Subway. There's a Denny's and a Pizza Hut. But there are many fabulous independent places.

7 days a week, 11-9. Yeah, you'll learn this face!

Fallbrook FroYo opened up yesterday, and we headed out today to give them a try! All I can say is we are deliciously in trouble! The shop is dangerously within walking distance of our house, and there is a punch card rewards system. I didn't count, but I'm going to go on a limb and say there are about 16 flavors to choose from including: lemonade (I think it's raspberry or pink lemonade-it was pretty delicious), cookies and cream (eh, we were not fans!), peanut butter, cheesecake, double chocolate, tart Italian (which was very tart, but very delicious!), red velvet cake, Tahitian vanilla... and some more. There are tiny little pill cups that you could get a sample of any flavors you wanted!

I went with Tahitian Vanilla and hubs went with Red Velvet!

Then, after you pour your FroYo, there are about 75 toppings to choose from! All kinds of candies and what not. Hubs went with jimmies and I went with strawberries and kiwi. Next time, I'm going to go with the berries: strawberries, blackberries and raspberries. Delish.

Fix it yourself FroYo places are taking over the world of desserts, friends. What is your favorite flavor and topping combination? I always go with the fruits... because then it's a healthy snack, right? :D

Cuddles and Kisses,
The Mrs.

Ice Cream to Doughnuts | 365

2011-07-13T10:40:00.000-07:00

Well friends: four weeks are down since my husband got home from deployment. I feel as though as fast as the actual deployment went, our days now are going! I find myself some days wanting time to skip over our bad days, but stand still for the good times. This week, as we said good by to the shipboard life and hello to leave, we've definitely had some fun!

TOP CENTER: Ben & Jerry's! It was on sale super cheap at the Commissary, and so we stocked up! Yum, yum, yum!

TOP RIGHT: We head to bed for our last early night. The clock says 9pm... which was kind of late for us! Those 4am wake up calls had us in bed by 8pm most nights!

MIDDLE LEFT: Good morning! Leaving the house by 0500 to make it down to the ship on time for the very last day! It was a bittersweet day for us both. I, however, will not be missing early mornings!

CENTER SQUARE: DATE NIGHT! We headed to El Torito for date night :D

MIDDLE RIGHT: That's a big ol' burger! We headed to lunch at a local Indian Reservation Casino/Resort and had their giant burger! It took us three to go boxes to carry out our leftovers!

BOTTOM LEFT: 7-11 celebrated their "birthday" and we went to get our free Slurpee shot!

BOTTOM CENTER: There is a cute little place in town called the Donut Pantry. We treated ourselves to a breakfast treat!

I hope you had a marvelous week as well friends! Here's looking forward to another fabulous one and moving on to our second month!

Cuddles and Kisses,
The Mrs.

Movie Mayhem

2011-07-12T10:40:00.000-07:00

Hubs and I found a a little movie theater in Temecula where they still offer military discounts and tickets are pretty cheap. We saw "morning movies" and the price was so cheap they didn't offer the discount, because it is already the discounted rate. For the two of us, we paid $11. YES: ELEVEN DOLLARS = TWO TICKETS!

We have decided there were some movies that just had to be seen with the theater experience for this price. Saturday, we woke up bright and early and took the dogs to Dogtopia to be groomed and hang out with some buddies. Then we headed to the theater just to see if we were in luck and could catch a flick. We lucked out and saw Bad Teacher.

Yeah, it's not an awkward movie date without a self portrait during those trivia slides before the previews.
Taken at Horrible Bosses

I have been wanting to see this movie since I saw the first preview for it. First: Jason Segal. HILARIOUS! He is definitely my type of guy: awkward, funny, and a secret little charmer. Next: Cameron Diaz and Justin Timberlake- together again and hysterical! Followed by: the career I wanted and the type of teacher I could have seen myself being (I'm talking about the obnoxious red head with the decorated walls who is the arch nemesis of Diaz!). It was nothing but laughs with the lesson that you can do whatever you want and get away with it as long as you're smarter than the competition.

We thought the movie would be over in time for us to see the next showing of Horrible Bosses, but it was about 10 minutes into the movie, and that would have been the worst! I hate being late to movies. We decided we would go back the next day... and we did!

Get to a theater and see this movie, friends!

I don't think I've laughed so hard in my life! We went bright and early at 10 am. There were more people in the theater this time: maybe six other couples? It was like a private showing! Weekend mornings are just as dead as weekday morning movies and are a great cheap date. The only expense was the first day, we were little piggies and both got a popcorn which we didn't even eat half of. The next day we stuck with just drinks.

I think we've found a great little place for nice date days on the weekends :D
Cuddles and Kisses,
The Mrs.

July Evelventh | My Favorite Day | Twenty Eleven

2011-07-11T17:25:00.000-07:00

This might be a little awkward, but when I moved from Virginia to California, one of the things I was worried about was: SEVEN ELEVEN! Back home you can't spit without hitting one- they are everywhere! Would they be out here too?

Happy Birthday 7-11

This is my first July 11th in California (as last year we had travelled back home for July) and I am happy to report that there are TWO Seven-Elevens in Fallbrook! Hubby and I took the liberty of heading over to one today and getting our 7-11 Birthday Slurpee. You know, every year on the eleventh of July, you can get a baby Slurpee for free!

We both got Alienade: a blue raspberry lemonade flavor.

Yes, he is wearing PINK and yes, we asked the cashier to take our picture :D

So friends, are you lucky enough to live close enough to a 7-11 to get your Slurpee on? Did yo remember to head over today and get one? They are quite possibly my favorite summer treat! They instantly take me back to my childhood and summers with my grandpa!
Cuddles and Kisses,
The Mrs.

Nines on el Nueve: Baby Bull!

2011-07-10T19:47:00.000-07:00

Last fall I was watching some show and I can't for the life of me remember the name of it. There was a couple who tried to be fancy shmancy instead of who they were. They had gotten into a rut of coming home, throwing on the comfy clothes and heating up frozen dinners or something. They decided they would be fancy people and get dressed up every night. After a week thy were exhausted and decided they just needed date nights.

I thought about it and decided we should do the same thing. I think date nights are so important to relationships- keeping them fresh, keeping focused on each other, keeping a little bit of the spark alive. We go out to eat every now and then, sure, but I mean a real "focus on each other" date night. We get so caught up in the rush of grabbing dinner that we don't make it special anymore- it's just dinner. When we were dating we went out all the time- we had two incomes and could afford eating out four+ nights a week.

The ninth night of every month we have declared: NINES ON THE NINES! It's our Mandatory Monthly Date Night. We'll get all dressed to the nines and go out for a fancier date night. Well, we failed this month because we overbooked the day. In our defense, we did shower and get dressed a little fancy... casual fancy :D

We headed to a cute little Mexican restaurant in Temecula called El Torito. We have not had Mexica since hubs has been back home!

And trust, I make him act like a complete tourist!
My time hosting and taking pictures of people gives me enough stories so we don't look too awkward!

El Torito is possibly a chain of Mexican Restaurants. I know they have coupons in those penny saver ads for $10 off your order of $30 or more. I'm down with it. They have two patios and a really cool tile wall waterfall thing!

The entrance to our Mexican Date Night

This is a waterfall!

One of the best things in the world is a MANGO MARGARITE :D Wheneve we go out for Mexican, we treat ourselves to one or two.

Someone's a LUSH! We haven't even ordered food yet and his is GONE!

Absolute deliciousness.
Side Note: That bracelet is one of the many gifts hubs got me from deployment!
It came all the way from the Philippines!
Nail Polish: "Big Hair... Big Nails" by O.P.I.

The absolute best part of date night? Sitting across the table from each other and gazing lovingly into one each others eyes:

My handsome hubs, gazing lovingly at his beautiful wife!

Our original plan was to head to Fish House Vera Cruz. Maybe next month? Do you have date nights with your significant other? I know one is going to be a fancy picnic up at the Temecula Duck Pond! We're ready to explore our area, and spend some special time with one another in the process!

Cuddles and Kisses,
The Mrs.

Ten on the Tenth

2011-07-10T15:32:00.000-07:00

It's a lazy Sunday afternoon here in Fallbrook. We had a busy weekend, and I can't wait to get the pictures up and post all about it! I hope you are having a fabulous weekend, friends! As most of you know the hubs is on leave in between duty stations and we are enjoying each other as much as we can, and exploring the area. I forget I've been living here since last October... and, well... he has been living on a ship for almost all that time! We've been exploring Temecula, Pechanga (a local Indian Reservation with a Casino and great restaurants! We had lunch there today: that'll be a great post!), enjoying movies and... ice cream.

We've been on the run since Friday afternoon, but in taking a break to catch up on all your blogs, I came across a neat photography project. Yes, I call it "photography" even though I know my DSLR DOES NOT make me a "photographer"... or do I? I digress, over on Bleu Dress & Dress Blues I saw a post about taking a picture, every hour, for ten hours, on the tenth of every month. She linked up and I am planning on joining in next month (since if I started now, we'd be taking pictures into the wee hours of the morning!).

I can't wait until next month to give it a try! The inspiration behind it is truly touching and I've been creeping at pictures today from folks who signed up and LOVE them all so much. It is interesting to see a day in another life unfold.

Stay tuned for some great posts about the Crazy Adventures of E Squared :D Enjoy what is left in your weekend!

Cuddles and Kisses,
The Mrs.

Mrs. MAO, Out.

2011-07-08T04:42:00.000-07:00

Today is a sad day friends. Three and a half years ago (Feb 2008), my husband reported aboard the USS Carl Vinson. I met him that January. Our entire relationship has been worked around the schedule of "America's Favorite Carrier". We dated around duty and commutes from the Newport News Shipyard during RCOH (Refueling Complex Overhaul- all Carriers go through them ~25 years into their service). I drove Thanksgiving Dinner to the shipyard parking lot. We planned vacations around her whims. We endured sea trials and planned a wedding around her first deployment in five years! We witnessed many hails, many farewells, and a change of command. We spent 11 months at sea over the course of two deployments, not including fast cruises and her many sea trials. Once moored in North Island, we had many a dinner in her wardroom on Duty nights.

She brought me my first move away from home. She was my first command as a wife. She was my introduction into the Navy and she has introduced me to many kind and wonderful people whom I hope to remain friends with for the rest of our lives. Today is my husbands last day aboard the good ship that brought us together. The command that brought him to my hometown and into my life.

I've gotten to know the people in his department, where he is known as MAO (Medical Admin Officer). The kids address me as Mrs. MAO which I like because it's not as formal as using my last name and shows the camaraderie established in the department. We now get some time to be together before heading to his next duty station: Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton.

These are exciting times. Nervous times! He will be a Department Head which is a big step in his career. I know he's nervous- new people, new responsibilities, a new routine and no more of those silly ship things like flashlights, earplugs, and knives. No more N-trip-Us (what I call NWUs). No more smelling like jet fuel and grease. NO MORE THREE HOUR ROUND TRIP COMMUTING!

It brings fears for me. He will have both naval and civilian personnel in his department. We're on a Marine base. I just learned the ways of the shipboard Navy! New acronyms. New slang. New ranks to learn. I pretty much know Pvt, PFC, LCpl and Cpl. I have the wikipedia page favorited so I can learn them. I am also excited to get involved with volunteering over here on base. I have a list to check out the Wives club, hospital and thrift store for opportunities.

I don't need an escort to visit hubs so I joke that I'll be there everyday for lunch so he doesn't have to sit alone. I can't wait to make muffins or cupcakes for the new department :D

New places, new faces, new adventures for us to enjoy!

Cuddles and Kisses,
The Mrs.

Over The Hedge and Into My Backyard!

2011-07-07T12:53:00.000-07:00

Some of you who are friends with me on facebook might now that we've recently had a problem with our backyard. Monday was the climax in all the action. Freedom was ringing, and it wasn't just for America!

You see, a few weeks ago our lovely little Fiona would be outside at night, down in the corner of the back yard, on Pomeranian Patrol. She would bark, and bark, and bark some more. We would go out and call her and usually she would come back in. One night, we were not so lucky. We threw on our flippy floppies and headed out to see what her deal was. There, in the darkness with the sorriest excuse for a flashlight, we found Fiona and a creature of the night. It was bigger than her, had fangs, and was GROWLING and HISSING at us. We didn't want to get too close so I shined the light on the beast while we tried to get Fiona closer to us. We snatched her up and ran for our lives.

A few nights later the same thing occurred. Oh crap! We had gotten a better flashlight- grabbed it and made our way into the darkness. She was barking into the tree and so again- I shined the light until I found the beast and hubby snatched up Fiona, securing her inside.

Cut to Monday morning, around 0800. The sun is shining, birds are chirping and dogs are barking. What the heck? We went into the yard to see what was going on. Fiona was trying to get behind the shed to attack her beastly nemesis in the light of day:

You see the beast? Right?

Well... here it was day light and the beast was trapped in our yard. SUPER. My first city slicking instinct was to call Animal Control. They take care of these types of situations? Right?

WRONG.

The lady laughed at me and told me to leave it alone. In the mean time she also told me to keep my dogs inside because the opossum was scared. I'm sorry, what? It is trespassing on my property and I have to be gentle because it's scared? Fine. What if it doesn't leave? What if it bites us? Will we get rabies? She informed us they are not carriers of rabies, but also told us not to try to touch it. YOU THINK? I'm not from the sticks! I don't want it for a pet!

Well, an hour later the marsupial was still taking up residence behind our shed. Meaning we couldn't let the dogs out. The woman at Animal Control told us to try to get it out with a broom. All it did was hiss at us some more. That was it... we called again. She told me I was wasting her time. I took another approach and told her I was afraid that the opossum might be pregnant and stuck, since it was kind of big. I then asked if I could shoot it. (Mind you, there are no guns in the house so PETA people, feel free to not harass me) She obviously told me no. I asked if they were a protected species or something. She got the picture and told me she would send someone out since both of it's sides were touching shed/wall.

Well, cut to:

Yeppers- that is the animal control guy and the hubs...

By the time the Animal Control guy showed up, that damn marsupial was GONE. Well, if we didn't look like the biggest bunch of jack-legs... calling this man up to fricking Fallbrook, on the 4th of July, for a damn opossum that wasn't even there!

You saw the pictures of it though, right? You know it was there! We're not losing our minds, right? Needless to say, Mr./Mrs. Opossum has not been back to our house- Pomeranian Patrol checks the perimeter every night.

Cuddles and Kisses,
The Mrs.

What's Up, Doc? Session One

2011-07-06T18:05:00.000-07:00

I feel like there should be some kind of warning for this post: This is in no way, shape, or form representative of psychological help for anyone other than myself. I am not a medical doctor/psychologist. This is the journey of one person through their own luggage. Should you have any questions feel free to e-mail me directly. Should you leave questions as comments, please ensure I can reply through e-mail to you. I am so thankful for all the constructive feedback from my last post about my journey... and so it shall continue:

This whole week and last I've been an emotional wreck. I love being a girl because I just blame my hormones. I cried all day last Monday [not the 4th, but the Monday before]. ALL DAY. When hubs asked me why I told him I didn't know. It wasn't avoidance, it was reality. It was as if someone turned on the faucet inside and never shut it off. I was leaking from the eyeballs.

[source]

I had made the decision to get help, and scheduled my appointment. The fear associated with that was so overwhelming for me. What would people think? What would my husband think? Would he leave me over whatever it was? What if I had to be medicated? Would he love me any less? Would our marriage slowly deteriorate to nothingness? Would I be strong enough?

My biggest fear with seeking therapeutic help is that I've been there and done it, and it makes you feel like complete and utter crap for a while. At least it did for me. I knew I would have to give the recap on my childhood and life. My first session went like this:

I explained why I was seeking help: I wanted to phrase it something like "frequent explosions of rage" but hubs had me phrase it more like "outbursts of anger". I explained the scenarios and then Dr. J confirmed my fear.

"What if it has nothing to do with crazy California drivers?" I knew where he was going, as most anyone who has taken a college level Psych 101 course would know. "What if I told you anger was the outward show of pain and fear?"

Well doc, how much time do we have? Let the recap begin: Parents divorced when I was 3. Step dad immediately moved in. My siblings and I were physically abused until we escaped the house... for me that was 14. I'm talking beaten with belts until there were welts on our bodies and we were bleeding. Eating peanut butter and jelly because booze was more important than food. Being thrown down stairways, against walls, being choked and pulled around by your hair. I'm not talking popping a kid on the bottom because they slapped their sibling.

Then Dr. J asks: "Was there sexual abuse?" Yes. My virginity was lost at 14 in a rape situation. The same situation is why I was kicked out of my house after being violently beaten. We're talking bathroom covered in blood, going to school three days later with bruises and not able to breath through my nose. We're talking police intervention.

Why at 26 do I still have to live with the demons of the past? That pretty much covers the pain aspect.

Stress/Fear. Oh man: the first change from one command to the next for me as a wife (in the relationship on a whole even). All of my husband's colleagues are so much older that they have kids my age, or just shy of it. I have nothing to say to them productive. The people who are my age and I've befriended we can't socially hang out with as a couple. I have no real community. I have no purpose right now other than being a wife. My husband is home and I don't know how I feel about it- I don't ever want the lovey dovey feeling to wear off but let's face it, it will. [Oh, there's more... many, many more]

Then there's the talk about family history as far as mental health and alcohol go which won't be aired since it's not my laundry but let's just say this is when Dr. J suggests I go on Oprah and write my own "real" million pieces book.

Diagnosis: Betty Badass lives down inside of me and verbally "shanks" people to keep me from ever being hurt again. Then, without having a disassociative personality disorder, there is a sweet little girl yearning for the love and affection I never got. She is stuck under the table hiding, wanting someone to tell her she is pretty in her pink princess dress. She is whiny and throws tantrums. Hmmm... I didn't even start talking about my tantrums! I couldn't use insanity to get my way out of charges. Wait... does this constitute acknowledgement of that? Deny, deny, deny.

Homework. Yep, I have homework. In a real journal- REAL, with paper and using pens! (Of course it will make it's way here too!) List the things I value the most and rank them from 1-5. Check it and re-evaluate if needed every few days. Write a "puke list" of all my fears and insecurities. Writing this list is number one on the list. Then, pick up a copy of "Feel The Fear... and do it anyway" by Susan Jeffers. I am confident I was assigned this because I let Dr. J know I didn't like reading.

I've been reading and working on my homework: I can't wait to share.

This is it - this is me.

Cuddles and Kisses,
The Mrs.

Week Three | 365 Newlywed

2011-07-06T09:18:00.000-07:00

I just don't know where the time goes, but I'm so glad we're capturing it photographically. We are already three weeks down - ALMOST A MONTH! This week was filled with excitement... and good old fashioned summer laziness.

TOP CENTER: Cuppy Cakes :D You don't frost cupcakes at 0400? I do, then send them to work with my hubby.

TOP RIGHT: Hubby and I are old and married, and so sometimes before bed we set some time aside in the evening to read. I also wear obnoxious plaid pants while we relax at home.

MIDDLE LEFT: Sometimes we [pizza] roll easy peasy for dinner.

CENTER: We bought one of those patio doggy doors for les petites chiens. Fiona must have been previously trained, but Bosco was NOT a fan. We tied a treat to a string and tried pulling it through the door before him... he was too quick though and got it before we got it through the door. He is progressing and now doesn't cower as much when heading in and out.

MIDDLE RIGHT: We have been eating outside almost every night and loving it. This is truly a summer to remember, HOWEVER: we've come to the conclusion that we'll never be able to move back to the south. It was 80*this weekend with no humidity and we were flipping HOT!

BOTTOM LEFT: 4th of July we awoke to an opossum trapped behind our shed. We called animal control who laughed at us and told us to just leave it alone for an hour and see if it would leave. Well... I'll share the story later but let's just say, it was still there more than an hour later. Main concerns: letting the dogs out an not killing it or themselves getting stuck, and the fact that this poor animal could be stuck itself. By the time animal control showed up at or house: the damn opossum was gone, making us look like jack-legs.

BOTTOM CENTER: How we spent most of our 4th day of the 4 day weekend: Monday I was struck with an immobilizing pain. I have self diagnosed this pain as either 1: a slipped disc, 2: a UTI or 3: the worst feminine lower back pain on the face of this Earth ["I enjoy being a girl, I enjoy being a girl, I enjoy being a girl, I enjoy being a girl..."]. I fell asleep Monday crying and awoke feeling only slightly better. Hubs took care of me though by making me get in the game and do good things like laundry, dishes, dinner... and relaxing.

That was our whirlwind of a week! Here's hoping this next one will only be better :D

Cuddles and Kisses,
The Mrs.

Teach Your Children Well

2011-07-05T12:37:00.000-07:00

Everyone will be on a soap box about the Casey Anthony case. I honestly didn't pay any attention to the case until last week when I started to listen to the morning talk show folks talk about it on the radio. In my heart I feel like she is guilty. In my heart, I feel like they showed enough "reasonable doubt" for the jury to come back with the not guilty verdict they did. I can tell you, that is one task I would never want to have.

I would never want to look at day after day of evidence and interrogations. I would never want the weight of a life in my hands. I would never want America to feel towards me the way so many Americans feel towards the twelve who held her fate in their hands.

Reasonable doubt is there to protect the innocent. Sometimes things set in place for our protection are abused. I feel this is the case. It disgusts me that there is celebration. However: We pay a price in this country for the freedoms we have. We have the chance to due process and a trial by jury. Sometimes things don't happen the way we (on the whole) want them to. Sometimes justice is not served.

I wonder now if people will bother looking for a murderer (since ergo: Casey Anthony didn't do it) for Caylee or if we, as a society, will all too soon forget her and her memory.

I see her memory being all too soon forgotten and the world looking under a microscope at our judicial system as it fails her. I see movies being mad, book deals rolling in, and profits being made over the life of a toddler, who slowly fades away. Hug you children closer tonight. Give them a few more kisses. Let them know they are loved. That's just how I feel after getting swept up in this whole thing.

Cuddles and Kisses,
The Mrs.

Be A [Canon] Rebel

2011-07-03T20:35:00.000-07:00

On April 22nd, something beautiful happened. Nan and I headed down to San Diego and after doing my research I purchased a camera. I decided it was time my pictures looked nice, and at the time I did not have a homecoming photographer and wanted good quality images. I got a Canon Rebel and have loved having this bad boy little toy! You may have noticed an increase in awesome pictures around here, but I was organizing my folders [because I need them stored away by year, month, day and then event] and came across the very first picture I ever took with it! As a frame of reference, the last picture I took with it was image 1939!

Other than stamping my name on it, this image has been completely unedited.

Boscottie | 4.22.2011

I feel sometimes poor Bosco gets neglected in the blog, but how fitting that my "Camera Whore Pooch" is the subject of the very first image on the new camera? There were a few others I took of him that evening just kind of playing around:

He was made to be a star!

He's my little handsome ~~man~~ dog!

How can you not love a face like that? No wonder we adopted him on the spot- he won us over with those gorgeous eyes and his lovable side! He wasn't a little terror until we got him home :D

Oh, and I am in love with this camera! I even took a video today and for the first time did not try to turn the camera! We've been taking most of our 365 | Newlywed pictures with it. I still haven't learned too much about it and never really take it off auto... but it is one of the best investments ever!

Cuddles and Kisses,
The Mrs.

A Four Day Weekend?

2011-07-01T10:58:00.000-07:00

Today was supposed to be hubs' last day on the ship. His orders are officially up. Yesterday, while sitting in the parking lot waiting to pick him up, I was greeted by both he and the new MAO. I didn't want to socialize, as I had been in the car for almost two hours (between the drive and the wait) but I got out none the less and put on my good wife smile.

The new MAO is female, and she had the privilege of informing me that Hubs had agreed to come in next week and continue turnover, to give her some more help. I was so proud of the fact that I smiled and in my best (in my head) "Church Lady" voice said, "well isn't that special." I think I also threw out a snarky comment about if this was when we asked if I was okay with more 3 hour commutes. For example: We left the house at 0457 this morning. As in when we pulled out of the driveway, as the garage door closed, that was the time on the car clock. As I pulled in it was 0748. Nice.

He didn't even have the chance to tell me himself [She is unwed and must not understand how husbands and wives prefer to hear crap news from their spouse]. That was what upset me. Thank to the great PCS debacle of 2011 we won't be headed home tonight like we thought up until a few days ago, so we really didn't have plans other than this would have been him post deployment leave period. She robbed me of time with my husband. She took away something that every couple needs after seven months of separation. She is the one who didn't report on time. Suck it up and learn as you go. Oh... that's mean Elizabeth sneaking out.

So Hubs and I have a four day weekend :D I'm relishing in the fact that 4th of July is one of the few holidays we have always celebrated together since we met. We have some burgers, hot dogs, chicken for kabobs and pork chops: we will be cooking out every day this weekend. Let's be honest, unless we've gone out, we've grilled ever since he's been home and love it!

I've got some good ones coming this weekend: more on my journey with Dr. J (by the way: thank you for all the touching comments, tweets, and messages after my last post about beginning the journey!), my road to fame, and hopefully some great beach shots from our shoot with Giles Smiles Photography! I might just have to post one or two on facebook as a teaser :D

Have fun this weekend, be safe, and be smart. Don't drink and drive! We'll catch you on the flip side :D

Cuddles and Kisses,
The Mrs.

The Best Form of Gratitude

2011-06-30T10:56:00.000-07:00

I had seen a recipe for Neapolitan cupcakes on Troop Petrie. I knew instantly I had to attempt them for the folks in the Medical Department on the Vinson before hubs' orders were up. I was only able to get one Martha Stewart cupcake holder in time for the transportation of the cupcakes. It is double decker and holds 24 cupcakes! I am in love with it and am getting another on A.S.A.P! Let's say this recipe could make about 48 cupcakes. For me it made 24 cupcakes and a three layer 9" round cake.

Can you say DELICIOUS?

I made up three cake mixes: one chocolate, one white and one strawberry. I took a big spoon from our silverware drawer- like a soup spoon- and spooned one scoop of chocolate in each cupcake liner in the tin. Then the white and strawberry. It was super easy! I baked them for 18 minutes and they were done. I stopped at 24 (since I only had the one carrier) and then made a 9" round cake out of each flavor. I layered them chocolate, white, then strawberry and iced in vanilla.

Hubs said everything was gone by 0830 cleaning stations. When he got to the car yesterday afternoon he handed me a folded piece of card stock. It said "Thank You, Mrs. O***" on the front with the seal from the department and some clip art of cupcakes. When I opened it, everyone had signed it and written little thank you's. I'm not going to lie, I got a little misty eyed. It was so touching that they took the time to make a cute little card. I will keep it forever in my little memory box. I am going to really miss this department.

In true military fashion, there's a lot of little black boxes over every one's name.

Hubs got one cupcake before they were all gone and said they were good. I mean, they were gone in about an hour- so I think they're a hit :D

Cuddles and Kisses,
The Mrs.

Down Together

2011-06-30T04:29:00.000-07:00

This week we have a sugar coated ditty about the sweetness that is me and the hubs. It's from a little band known as The Refreshments, off their album "Fizzy, Fuzzy, Big & Buzzy" from 1996. I was in the sixth grade and fell in love with the entire album. I have this song on a few mixed c.d.'s (yeppers, I still make mix c.d.'s!) and have heard it a few times over the last week. I always think of the good times me and hubs have together- about the places we can get to on one tank of gas, and let's face it, his breath has been smelling of wine a few times this week.

Enjoy this little flashback into good 90's music :D

What are you waiting for? Go on over to Goodnight Moon and link up :D

Cuddles and Kisses,
The Mrs.

We Don't Talk About These Things

2011-06-29T11:32:00.000-07:00

Most blogs are happy go lucky places of sunshine and lollipops all the time, with unicorns throwing glitter at you the minute the page opens. Sadly, some mornings I wake up and the unicorns are still asleep... the glitter just doesn't get thrown... My rainbow got run into by a 747.

[source]

The last two weeks have been both exciting and intense. After my solitaire confinement up in Fallbrook, suddenly there is someone else in the house... my house. It is a bit hard to adjust to. Uh-oh... here we go folks.

There are little things that are overwhelming. Suddenly there are all these fabulous things from foreign places that got dropped in the middle of the living room and we have to find places for them... and then all of our HHGs. Suddenly there is five times as much laundry, just by the addition of one person! Oh, there is also an almost empty bottle of shampoo... he doesn't even have that much hair! How can he go through a bottle so quickly? Quicker than me!!

There have been several events over the last two weeks that ... worried me. There was an incident at a gas station where some cockamamie scum-bucket came over asking for gas, saying he was a Marine and lost his wallet. When we pulled in we saw him with a young lady, presumably his girlfriend. Had she lost her purse too? Was his cell phone in his wallet and he couldn't phone a friend? Hubs was in uniform and could only say so much. The kid was CLEARLY NOT a Marine. I stuck my head out and told him to get the eff away from my mother-effing car or I'd call the cops. If I had a shank, I would have used it.

Previous episode was kids in a grocery store here messing with my groceries as I was checking out. Seriously? Get your mother-effing c-sucking kids away from my shit.

The straw that broke the camels back? Monday morning. From the Coronado bridge to base... I'd say a two mile stretch, the guy behind me was so up on my bumper that I thought he was in my backseat. BASE TRAFFIC SUCKS. We all understand that. It took every fiber of my being to not throw my car in park, get out, and reach into his car and slap him. No exaggeration.

Mental disorders are still such a taboo in society. That's why this post is so hard to write. That's why calling a counselor was almost harder! What was going on with me?! Give me some Xanax and call it a day. I felt like I needed an epi pen filed with tranquilizers. Enter: Dr. J (not the basketball God, but my new therapist).

I will be sharing my journey here because it is my feeling that if we as a society open up more about small disorders/issues, we can accept those with them and greater disorders. Let's just say it's like "Anger Management", but I'm kind of funnier than Sandler. Dr. J even told me I should go on a comedy tour (not the first time I've heard that!) or write a book. Consider yourselves the lucky ones who get the sneak peak at the future NYT Best-seller!

I would ask that you use special common courtesy on these posts and not be douchetastic with your comments. The process will be long, but healing will come eventually. I saw Dr. J yesterday and once I get a minute to really process everything I'll share more about my experience with anger, adjustment disorder, and maybe even a rant about how America is over-medicated.

Cuddles and Kisses,
The Mrs.

Week Two | 365 Newlywed Days

2011-06-29T04:40:00.000-07:00

It is hard to believe the hubs has been home for two weeks already. Why is it that time together flies by so much quicker than time spent apart? We made a lot of memories this week though! Here's a glimpse:

TOP CENTER: Mmmm... delicious beverages :D Summer is officially here with cold adult drinks and the grill kicking up in the background! If we're friends for realz on the facebook, you'll have seen the picture with my fridge fully stocked with beer for the hubs' return. I promise, the girly drink (Malibu baybreeze) is all me :D
TOP RIGHT: Getting all dolled up for the HCE Wine Tasting
MIDDLE LEFT: Our new patio furniture, which is being enjoyed by the whole family, and we are looking forward to many a peaceful evening out there!
MIDDLE CENTER: COMMISSARY RUN! I thought it was our first, but it was not. Oh well, we got essentials to make some EPIC cupcakes for Hubs' department before he leaves and some picnic lunch essentials.
MIDDLE RIGHT: Enjoying the yard on a break from Sunday "cleaning stations"... both wearing our shower shoes/house flippy floppies.
BOTTOM LEFT: Ugh- the PCS debacle.
BOTTOM CENTER: Enjoying our grill :D Cooking some burgers that were infused with bacon and cheddar :D This was take two,as take one I was on the other side- right above the smoke vent. We're still learning, but enjoying every minute of it!

Another week flew right by quicker than I wanted it to. Another week gone with nothing but memories left. I can't wait to see what this week brings!

Cuddles and Kisses,
The Mrs.

Not Surviving PCS Season

2011-06-28T04:42:00.000-07:00

As most of you may or may not know, we have been living without our house hold goods (HHGs) since January, 2010. Oh no, you read that right: TWENTY TEN... JANUARY. Seventeen months without any of our stuff. I haven't even been able to open and use any wedding gifts, except for martini glasses we used for shrimp cocktail the night of our rehearsal dinner.

[Quick back story for hose not in the loop: hubs' orders were up Feb '11. The ship home port changed in Apr '10. We would not have orders to carry us through for 12 months so we were not granted a home port change certificate and were not PCSed. I flew cross county with 4 suitcases. We lived in a furnished apartment when we lived in Coronado. Hubs made promotion and they extended him through the end of deployment. Total time we've been here on ship orders: 14 months. When we moved to Fallbrook we just bought our married, grown up furniture. We now have orders and are trying to get all our things.]

Enter my afternoon yesterday:

Us, at least smiling, at the Personal Property office, getting jerked around a little more by the Navy.

This is Hubs' first PCS where everything is online. You have to use a government computer to do everything. He could not access the website during deployment and since I was at home without his card I don't know if I could have, although I think we learned yesterday you could use Fleet and Family Service computers- so maybe I could have but I don't have his cac card? Anyway. He tries doing it online from the ship and they won't let him because...

The ship is in San Diego.

That is correct. The ship is now in San Diego so guess where the United States Navy thought they were going to be cleaver and try to PCS us from? I GOT NEWS FOR YOU BUDDY!

So now we get to try to schedule a move on old orders from when the ship was in the Newport News shipyard. Trying to explain this was like pulling teeth from rabid cats. The woman thought we were coming from Newport, RI but our stuff was in Norfolk, VA. It took ten minutes to get her on board with the "News" after Newport. Oh, and when you home port change, they move a car for you. We're not going to be so lucky.

We also are not going to be able to PCS in between duty stations in July. We have to wait until August or September! WE'RE NOT WITH OUR STUFF! So while hubs has the leave we can't go home financially and then go back to get our belongings in another month or two.

Oh, thank you, USN, for providing me with another battle scar of being in your service. Today we hope to be able to have hubs talk to someone on the ship who can give him a home port change certificate since they extended his orders and technically we home port changed. This will mean our second car is on its way to us. If not, no bueno.

Cuddles and Kisses,
The Mrs.

Frank... er, Manny, The Yard Guy

2011-06-27T04:58:00.000-07:00

Some of my longer time readers may recall Frank, the yard guy. He generally showed up when he wanted, sometimes not even once a week like he was supposed to. When he was here he kind of hung out in my yard as the dogs went Bananas. Oh, and there was that one time he thought it was a good idea to bring his dog with him- like an American bulldog, who had to hide from my little beasts. Well, two to three weeks ago he just stopped showing up and with hubby home, it was not going to fly. The yard was looking a mess!

I e-mailed the landlords (who are the ones who pay for the landscape artistry, and even put in our lease that weekly yard maintenance was included in our rent) and asked if he was on vacation, or if they knew anything about it. Oh, they did... it appears Franklin went off the deep end and is dealing with himself at the moment, and they were looking for someone new. How nice of them to fill us in since this man who went off the deep end knows where I live.

Yesterday, we had two prospective landscapers/yard guys traipse around our yard with our Landlord. He is a Marine and was not impressed when the first guy was at the 7 minute late mark. I believe it cost him the contract. So today, "sometime after 9" Manny, the new yard guy will be coming and I hope he takes this job seriously.

There is a weed in the back yard that has been allowed to grow so much, that it looks like a tree now. Not kidding. There are weeds growing on the fence, a guava tree (gross- he can harvest that crap) growing over the fence which drives me crazy! There is crap on top of the sheds in the back yard. The overgrowth is beyond acceptable. I'm giving Manny two weeks before I ask him to take care of some of it. He speaks English perfectly and I think we can make this work.

Top Left: Yeah, that's an apricot tree growing onto the shed. Seriously? Prune that.
Top Right: This picture was taken a month ago... those vines are MUCH worse now.
Bottom Left: I don't think that tree is supposed to be that way, and one of the masses fell onto the shed.
Bottom Right: I don't think they're supposed to be that big.

I'll hopefully have a positive view of Manny after he comes and works some yard magic :D I, of course, will keep you posted.

Do you have yard workers? Do they drive you as batty as Frank drove me? Do you hide from them? I do, and I feel kind of bad, but they're here to do a job, not be my friend!

Cuddles and Kisses,
The Mrs.

You Can Dress Him Up...

2011-06-26T17:11:00.000-07:00

Oh, but can you take him out?

Everyone should be so lucky as to be young, in love, and have a wild disposition in the arms of the one who has chosen them for life. Here are two of my favorite pictures from our date night:

Hahaha, my sweet little drunkems.

Me... I think in the middle of asking him "what the eff are you doing?"

How we got to these pictures is a good story, so let me start at the beginning:

Thursday at the HCE wine tasting, we learned where the term "Temecula" or "Temuku" comes from. It is Native American for "where the sun shines through the mist". Temecula, CA has the perfect micro climate for vineyards and wineries! Hubs and I have decided to make it a goal to visit all of the wineries in the great Wine Country a mere 20 miles from our front door.

Enter our first fancy date night where we visited Callaway Winery (the same one we went to Thursday) for dinner, and then across the street to Thornton Winery for more dessert, a sampling of more wines, and some live music. Oh... and some of the best memories we'll have captured in some hysterical pictures!

We began at the Meritage Restaurant at Callaway Winery. Meritage is a special wine, created with any combination of five certain grapes. You have to pay dues to the organization in order to call one of your wines Meritage. It is a combination of the word "Merit" and "heritage".

One of the best views we've sat and ate looking at!

Pictures taken after our delicious meal... hence the huge stain on hubby's tie.

OH MAN: THE FOOD!

We also had salad, but didn't think to get pictures of it in all it's deliciousness. Mine was just plain, and hubs got his with warm goat cheese on to... which ended up on mine and was so delicious! Hubby had some Hangar Steak with steak fries and green beans. I had mashed potatoes, spinach, and a good chunk of that chicken. The chicken and spinach was smothered in whole cloves of garlic and super yummy. Hubby helped. Then we split the most amazing dessert that has touched my lips: chocolate crepe with molten chocolate ganache!

How did we get to the first pictures up there though? Oh, when we left Callaway Winery we decided we would drive down the street to see all the wineries, and check out Lake Skinner at the end. This changed as we ended up driving directly across the street to Thornton Winery! It was a bit nicer and we saw a sign saying live music Friday and Saturday nights, so we decided we would hang out, maybe do a sampling, and check it out.

Long story short [since we're getting kind of long!] someone found he had too much wine and dessert!

Don't worry, later in the week I'll bring you the tale of Thornton Winery, the delicious food we had there, the frolicking in a field and more fountain shots.

We had such a wonderful time and it is so great to be back with my partner in crime and friend through good times!
Cuddles and Kisses,
The Mrs.

Sexy Saturday | Sailor Salute

2011-06-25T09:05:00.000-07:00

Welcome back to Sexy Saturday :D This week is for all you Navy gals... or those couples who enjoy fun role playing or costumes. You know my adult store of choice here on the web and can find previous installments by clicking on the tag "EdenFantasys" down at the bottom of the post. As always this installment is intended for those persons 18 years of age or more.

Before hubs came home, I went on my pajama shopping spree.

I got some cute lingerie and then thought "How cute would it be to get a 'naughty' sailor outfit?" We don't really do costumes or role play or anything like that, but every now and then I think it's fun to mix it up. The hunt began for a "naughty sailor" that was cost effective (I mean, I'm not wearing it all the time) and cute. Plus size lingerie and costumes cost some bones, for realz. Then I was browsing around over on EdenFantasys and thought I'd give it a shot.

I found the cutest outfit at a reasonable price! The Cute Salute Sailor! It was $49.99, but I had a gift card, and decided to use it on this. Even without a gift card, it was one of the most reasonable prices I'd found.

Image from EdenFantasys. Costume by DreamGirl.

I immediately though of slinking back into the bathroom, changing real quick, and then telling the hubs I was ready for Uniform Inspection :D

NAVY WIVES: This comes with the cute little gloves and the dickie hat. There is an adorable bib on the back with a blue sequin anchor as well. Stockings and shoes not included, and I didn't wear any with it. How adorable for a cute homecoming surprise... just please don't wear this to the pier! (Oh, because you would be surprised!) It is the type of costume that could be worn to a Halloween party, if you wear the sexy/naught costumes for Halloween. While it is shown a little high on the model in the image, the little white bows on the side untie and the hem can be lowered. I'm 5'8 and on me it can fall just above my knees.

The cutest part? I was able to take a cute, upper body picture and text it to my husband while the ship was in Hawaii with the message "Your sailor is waiting ;)"

The dress is made of a microfiber material, so it does hug the body and show off all your curves. It is definitely the type of garment that you should hand wash as there are sequined details and the charm is rather delicate.

My only complaint was the gloves are a little big... so I guess I'm not passing the whole uniform inspection. Also, right now there is only 3x/4x or Large in stock, but what I love about the site is you can set an e-mail alert to remind you when something you are looking for comes back into stock!

Cuddles and Kisses,
The Mrs.

While compensated for this post, I fully endorse EdenFantasys. I take part in the community: reviews, polls, forums, newsletters and so much more! If you are interested in writing reviews for EdenFantasys, shoot me a line: younghomewifey@aol.com and I'll let you know how!