CSN Store Giveaway!

FINALLY! I can post my giveaway! :D

Recently, a rep for CSN stores contacted me and asked me whether I would be interested in hosting either a review of one of their many products, or a giveaway! I noticed that one of my other fellow bloggers was already doing a review for CSN, so I opted for the giveaway!

CSN is offering a $15 gift certificate towards anything on their 200+ online stores! You can find everything from modern office furniture to adorable shoes to chic lighting! 


I know I know, $15 is not much if you are putting it towards a new sofa, but if this goes well... I'm sure more of you will be contacted to host giveaways and reviews worth different values! :D 
(So be positive ;D) 

How to Enter!

1. Leave a comment with your name and E-mail address! (Show some love ;D)
2. And for an additional entry, follow me! (let me know in a comment as well!)

The winner will be announced next Thursday :D

Good luck ladies!

*Side note! The winner must be a U.S. or Canadian resident :X

Military Girlfriend Community! ;D

Hey all, this brief little post has to do with something very near to my heart (obviously)

I adore all of your blogs, and love reading about your day to day experiences whether you are a
wife, fiance, or military girlfriend.... but this post is for the girlfriends specifically!
(Don't take it personally married or on the road to being married ladies! I hope to join you eventually ;D)

Recently, Kelsey over at Home is Where the Heart is decided to start up a little haven just for us girlfriends! The Military Girlfriend Community! The site is just a baby right now, but the more buzz it gets, and the more girlfriends that join, the more awesome it will become ;D Head on over and introduce yourself, and don't forget to add this nifty button to your page!

<a href="http://miligirlfriends.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Miligf" src="http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/88/miligfbutton.jpg"/></a>

Oh!

Check back later tonight for my little baby giveaway ;D

Versatile Blogger Award!

Stephanie, over at A Fairytale with Dog Tags passed down the Versatile Blogger award to me!

Thanks Stephanie! 

This put the biggest smile on my face!

:D

This award comes with a few rules, so read on!

1. Thank and link back to the person who gave you the award

2. Answer 10 questions

3. Pass it along to blogs you've recently discovered and enjoy

4. Leave your recipients a note, telling them about the award

The 10 Questions...

1. Why did you create this blog?

Oh this blog and it's reason for existing haha. I started this blog right before Ryan headed off to his first deployment, and I must say that has been very therapeutic. Kelsey and Michel (fellow Air Force significant others) convinced me to go ahead and make one after they told me about the great support they receive from other lovely ladies in similar situations, and they definitely were not lying(:

2. What kinds of blogs do you follow?

Mostly I follow other military affiliated ladies. I love reading about their stories, and offering up whatever support or advice I can think of. I also love photography and quotes, so I follow a few blogs that focus on that.

3. Favorite make-up brand?

Umm. I am actually really simple with my make up. Nothing too expensive. 

I usually just buy all of my make up from Target. 

4. Favorite clothing brand?

Forever21 & Urban Outfitters<3

5. Indispensable makeup product?

Liquid eyeliner!

Eyeliner makes my entire face! haha

When I take it off at night, it weirds me out O_o

6. Favorite color?

I don't really have one. My room is a midnight blue though, and I love that.

7. Favorite perfume?

Vera Wang's Princess! :D

and Victoria's Secret's Tease<3

8. Favorite film?

Wow. I should include a picture of my movie collection here, because

I love way too many to write.

Here are a few I love though:

A) Ace Ventura Pet Detective

B) The Harry Potter series

C) Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World

D) Beauty and the Beast

E) The Lion King

F) Superbad

G) V for Vendetta

9. What country would you like to visit and why?

New Zealand and France.

New Zealand, because I hear it is absolutely gorgeous.

And France because I want to see Versailles :X

10. Would you rather forget to put mascara on one eye or forget blush on one side of your face?

Blush! Nobody even notices blush, but EVERYONE notices when you don't have mascara on..

(even my dad notices... "Whats wrong with your left eye?" -______-)

Now, here are the lovely ladies I passed the award on to :D

Jillian @ Iron & Sunshine

Kelsey @ Home is Where the Heart is

Michel @ Two Southerners

anddddddd

Rebekah @ Life with the Edwards

oh! and tomorrow the giveaway post will be up! 

Have a lovely Friday all!<3

Fill in the Blank Friday!

Fill in your own!

1.   If my house was on fire and I could only grab 3 things I would grab?: 1) My pets! I already have it all planned out. I have a box big enough to put my bunny and my betta fishbowls in, and the dogs are all trained to run straight into the car. haha 2) My lap top! and 3) my Air Force blanket.... (filled with 3 stuffed animals Ryan bought me) hahahahahaha We are just going to go ahead and assume that my phone is in my pocket.

2.  A smell I really like is Men's Eternity cologne... WOOOO ;D

3.  Something you might not know about me is Deli meat freaks me out. I mean... I literally have to sit there and convince myself to touch it, and after I wash my hands forever in hot water. I don't know what it is. I just can't deal with it. I HATE it. So that is how Ryan knows I love him.. I make him sandwiches haha 

4.  Some of my favorite websites to putter about on are  Blogs! haha I love these damn things. I also love browsing clothing stores online. (Forever 21, Urban Outfitters.. etc) 

5.  This weekend I will Work, do some homework, and catch up with an old friend from high school! :D

6. Nothing makes me happier than being with Ryan<3 

7.  A bad habit I have is procrastination. I can't help it.. I am so good at it :X

Favorite thing for the day?

Graphics that seem to know EXACTLY what I am feeling<3

Be on the look out for my next post! It will most likely be concerning the giveaway! :D

Craft-O-Maniac Giveaway!!!! and then.......

Fellow blogging folk!

Read hereeee :D

For those of you who don't already follow Jen, or as most in the blogging world know her as,

the Craft-O-Maniac, well you should get on that.

Not only because she is hosting an adorable Valentine's Day Giveaway, but because her crafts

are honestly some of the cutest things I have ever seen! This blogger will definitely bring out the creative side in anyone ;D

But back to her giveaway!

She is offering up this lovely set over to a lucky winner next week!

I am loving the skeleton keys, the teapot, and

the stuffed heart pillow!

All you have to do is....

1. Follow her blog (inform her!)
2. Follow her on FB (inform her!)
3. Leave a comment saying why you love her blog!
4. Blog, tweet, or FB the giveaway (inform her!)
5. And lastly... give her a sweet little hello!

And each step counts as an entry!

(wooooooooooo)

Hurry Hurry Hurry!

Ok, next order of business!

I may soon be hosting my own little giveaway! It will most likely be a small gift certificate (a rep e-mailed me about it this morning :D) But "a little" is better than nothing at all! So be on the look out for that! Hopefully it will be the first of a few giveaways that I will have the opportunity of hosting!

Next in line..... Kelsey over at Home is Where the Heart is posted a little interview (she interviewed me duh ;D) a couple of days ago! I was glad to do it, gotta take any chance I get to talk about my air man ;D So go check it out if you have a chance<3 

and LASTLY!!!!!! 

Favorite thing for the day?

Starbucks' skinny vanilla lattes!

For someone who is trying to drop a few LBS...

this is a life saver! They are sooo yummy, and a Venti (the largest size)

only has 160 calories!!!!! :D

p.s. Sorry I haven't been able to show too much love to all of your lovely blogs,

I am so busy with work, school, and coaching, but I am doing my best!

<3

Fill in the Blank Fridays?

I want to do this...

So I am going to start doing this... ha.

http://thelittlethingswedo.blogspot.com/

1.   My favorite quote is : I'm a sucker for quotes. Good ones that is, so here are three that I am currently in love with. 

A) "Not all those who wander are lost."- J.R.R. Tolkien 

B) "I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night."-Galileo 

andddddddddd last but certainly not least 

C)"It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live."-Dumbledore! :D<3

2.  A bad habit I have is: I am the queen of bad habits. Seriously. It would be more of a challenge to find a GOOD habit of mine. 

A) Picking at my nails

B) Playing with my bangs

C) Stammering when I get mad

D) Looking in the mirror too often

E) Cracking my knuckles

etc etc....

3.  The first time I felt like a "grown up" was: Well.. I am going to have to say the day I decided I was buying a plane ticket, getting on a plane for the first time, traveling ALONE,  and going to spend the weekend with my air man.. without my parent's permission or approval. Although I have been doing adult like things for awhile, this was the first time that I felt I could do something against their wishes, and I wasn't worried about being punished. They couldn't punish me. Couldn't stop me. And I am so glad I went through with it. Now, they do treat me like the adult that I am, and I can see my air man when I want without a nasty dreadful feeling hanging overhead. 

4.  Weekends are: What I live for. I love weekends, not because I party and go nuts... but because I know I've gotten through another week. For someone who just wants to dominate school and get on with her career and her life... weekends are AMAZING<3

5.  When I was a child I wished my name was: I don't recall ever wishing I was named something else. Although, at times I have questioned WHY I was given this name, and if it suits me... I have never wished for another. It is what it is, and I make it work ;D

6.  I wish: That I was done with school, and was able to get a place with Ryan so we could start our life together. As lame and cliche as that is, it is ALL I have been wanting for quite some time now. Can't tell him that though... don't want to scare him off ;D

7.  A secret I have is : Secrets?! pshhh...... I'm an open book.... with some paragraphs scratched out :X

Favorite thing for the day?

My Scrubs!

I can't wait for the day that I get $$$$$ to wear them :D

Woe.

Ergh.

Ryan has been switched to the dayline, meaning he is now asleep while I am awake.

Which in turn means that we hardly get to speak anymore.

Which results in me feeling like this ---------> :(

In a way though, it is better for him. Now his sleep schedule won't be so messed  up,

and he will get the chance to take part in more activities.

He has been complaining about how slow his days are, so this should help.

Looks like I will have to make do with a 5 minute facebook chat whenever I can get one.

On a more positive note, I sent two care packages already.

The first was intended to be a little something for our one year and his birthday (the 4th, and the 12th).

He hasn't received that one yet, but it should be there by next week. 

Caleb better not keep it! ;D

Here is a picture of the contents of said box!

• One blanket
• A shitload of fruit roll ups ;D
• One bag of Peachie-O's
• One T-shirt that he has been wanting
• 6 bags of cookies and crackers
• Two pairs of boxer briefs (funny story, for some reason Ryan calls me a squirrel..... jerk.... so I told him that he is my chipmunk........ AND we also constantly discuss the origin of the platypus species.... we're weird I know... and I found a pair of briefs with ALL THREE animals on them at Urban Outfitters! Weird right? aha)
• One $15 itunes gift card (so he can download games on his ipod)
• Two cards<3 (One for our anniversary, one for his birthday)

I really hope he enjoys this box, and I can't wait for it to get there!

Moving on, today I sent out his Valentine's Day box! Now I know that Valentine's Day is a total female holiday, and that guys don't really care about it, but if he were here we would at least be going out to dinner or something! Plus, I miss him like crazy, and this makes me feel useful >.<

This box was a little more difficult to put together, mainly because it is hard to buy for my guy without it being too cheesy, so there are mostly his favorite edibles involved, but I managed to put a cute little touch on it.

• Box # 1: The inside joke box! Contains one Where's Waldo doll, 4 ninja figurines, 1 jar of silly putty, and 2 rubber ducks (Once again.... we're WEIRD)
• Box # 2: Poker box! My man LOVES poker! So I bought him chocolate poker chips, and a Valentine's Day deck of cards
• Box # 3: Fortune cookies! I stuffed this box with 6 chocolate covered fortune cookies with dirty fortunes inside! haha ;D
• Box # 4: Heart cakes! I don't know if you know what I am talking about, but around all holidays... grocery stores and whatnot sell appropriate shaped cream filled cakes. Ryan LOVES THEM. So I stuffed 4 in his box (: They will probably be his favorite part of the entire box)
• Box # 5: Pop tart box! Ryan is obsessed with pop tarts. We are talking OBSESSED. And lucky for me they released 100 calorie packs of V day strawberry pop tarts! So cute! 
• Box # 6: The last box is just filled with his favorite Reeses candies, and a bunch of heart shaped fruit snacks :D
• Finally, I bought him a little heart shaped gum dispenser! Lame, but so cute
• And then... his card. On the front it says "Valentine...." and has a picture of a stethoscope shaped like a heart (which I thought was appropriate since I am going into the medical field) and on the inside it says "Wanna play doctor?" ;D haha love it

He should get the box before the 14th, and I am really excited! 

Only 6 more weeks before he comes home!

Oh! Favorite thing for the day?

My Betta fish! 

His name is Sirius Black. haha

Diet update!

I have been doing pretty well! I haven't been as strict as I would like, but..... My jeans aren't as snug and my stomach is sore pretty much every night from crunches. I take that as a good thing though! It's a good sore(: Sundays are my free days, so I eat what I want... but not too much because I feel guilty so easily.

Well anyway.. I was feeling GREAT, until today. Ryan's mom posted a picture of Ryan and I before he left to Washington the first time and OH MY GOSH... I have lost almost 10 lbs since that picture was taken, and given the photo was taken when I was sitting at an awkward angle...... BUT I LOOK TERRIBLE. And there is Ryan sitting next to me looking all handsome and fit. Needless to say, I can't get that image out of my head. I am even MORE determined to lose weight now, and I plan on making my diet a bit more strict. I don't want that.. I want Ryan to be proud to call me his, just like I am proud to call him mine. I am not terribly overweight. I'm 5'5", size 9 jeans, and usually wear medium or large tops depending on the style... But I know I could serve to drop about 15 lbs. Maybe even more. Ergh. I don't think I should take anymore Sundays off.

I have a little over 40 days left to continue with my progress, I hope Ryan likes what he sees(:
I hope everyone is doing well!

My younger sister and I! She is so pretty and fit -___-

LAME

I never used to be this way. In fact, I used to constantly belittle people who looked, acted, felt this way. I'm talking NO RESPECT. Even when I was in a situation where there were countless possibilities of actually being this way.

I swore to never go down this cornball road.

Yet here I am, as cheesy in love as you can get.

I'm talking every sappy cutesy itty bitty love feeling there is.

I feel it.

You know, there was once a time where I had no heart.

Well, not physically of course.

I suppose it resulted from my string of shitty relationships and awful decisions.

But whatever.

The point is, I once had someone tell me that I looked like I ate SOULS for breakfast.

Yeah.

That was said.

About me.

SOULS.

Like I was some sort of mythical creature that snatched naughty people away in the night.

And then all of a sudden..

POOF.

Ryan comes back into my life and I'm head over heels!

Damn him!!!!!!!!

Have you ever seen The Grinch? How his heart grew three sizes?

Mine grows five sizes every time someone mentions his NAME.

Ryan's.... not the Grinch's.

And I don't know what to do about it! I can't stop it! 

Every love song, good and lame.. reminds me of him!

I smile every time I think about him, I glow when I see him.

And I am never more content than I am when I am in the same room with him.

It's sickening. I have a terminal illness. 

And I'm afraid there is no cure.

You bring out the lame in me babe(:

Favorite thing for the day? 

My Air Force blanket of course (: 

Ryan gave it to me when he came home on his first leave.

That wasn't exactly the greatest time, and honestly... 

I thought we weren't going to last much longer after that...

but... things have got to get worse before they can get better right?

And that they did.

We are better now than we ever been before.

And... I sleep with this blanket every night<3

Valentines day is coming up, and I can't wait to start making his box!

I think I have a pretty decent idea... I'll let you guys know as it develops more though!

Hope everyone is doing well!

Favorite me favorite you favorite thing

I've been browsing a lot of blogs lately, and I've noticed that a lot of you lovely ladies post pictures of their "Favorite Things." I think that is a great idea, and it is so easy to get creative with! So from now on, with every post, I will include a picture of one of my favorite things.

Today's favorite thing is none other than Bunny the Destroyer! My 3 year old mini Holland Lop rabbit!
This little fluffy nugget is my baby! He is ridiculously friendly, and loves to be in the middle of it all. His favorite foods are cheerios, cheez-its, grapes, and any salad I happen to be eating.He makes me feel right when everything else is oh so wrong<3 Right now he is sitting at my feet chewing on a rice stick >.< I am debating on breeding him with my friend's bunny so that they can make little tri-colored babies. A lot of my friends want one, so I would get to watch his babies grow up :D It's just a thought ;]

Anyway, deployment honestly is not the big scary monster that I was building it up to be. Before he left I gave Ryan my ideal deployment communication "standards", which were one Skype call a week, and one facebook comment a day so that I knew he was alive and well. A lot of people were telling me that it wasn't enough and blah blah blah, but Ryan and I work in an odd way. I also wasn't sure what his communication capabilities would be or what amount of spare time he would have. I am glad to say that he has MORE than exceeded my "standards" ;D He pretty much calls me every day, and we video chat for an hour minimum each time. It is amazing to say the least. I don't know why we never really used Skype while he was in Washington, it makes communication so much easier and interesting for us. He has been sick the past few days though, and I feel so bad that he is most likely going to be sick and flying on his birthday (which is in two days.) I sent his box out though! He was having trouble getting his address, so I sent it to his friend Caleb, which just happens to be Kelsey's boyfriend over at http://kelseylaurenusaf.blogspot.com/ ! He was SUPPOSED to keep it a secret and give the box to Ryan when it arrived, but those females gossip more than actual females! I believe Ryan's words were "Oh yeah babe, Caleb told me about your secret box fiasco... and then he told me not to tell you that he told me...." -_________- FAIL CALEB! haha It is ok though, in a way I am kind of glad because at least he will know that he has something coming for his birthday... even if it takes 2 weeks + to get there >.<

When I send out his Valentine's Day box, I am going to swear Caleb to secrecy though haha

On a parting note, I recently discovered the likes of flickr, and realized that if you go to the website and click on Last 7 Days link at the bottom of the page, the week's most interesting photos pop up. There are some really great photos there, and if you are fan of photography like I am.. you will appreciate the work.
Hope everyone is having a lovely Monday!

Lazy Sunday

SUNDAY! My ONLY day off! It has been glorious thus far. I talked to Ryan for 2 and a half hours on Skype last night, slept in until noon, and now I am all showered and comfy in my Steelers jersey.

Later on today a bunch of us are going to play monopoly at my house (yes... we really are nerds), but we spice it up a little bit. We are going out and buying a bunch of goodies and prizes and what not, so if you land on certain things or pull certain cards you win a prize.... alcohol and candy obviously haha (Sundays are my free days when it comes to my diet! Which I have been doing really well with by the way)  If I remember, I will post pictures later on.

For now, here is a cute little graphic I found.
This is quite literally how Ryan and I sleep haha(:

We just need to color the hair on the guy red,
and change the girl's shirt to a football jersesy because
I would never wear pink ;D
Have a love Sunday everyone!

One of those days...

You know the type of day I am referring to right? The type of day where you want something so damn bad, and NOTHING else can even come close to taking that spot? So much so that you'd rather keep to yourself than try to drown yourself in false hopes and disappointment? The type of day that you know there is just no hope in trying to fix, and your best bet is just to let it run its course?

THAT is the type of day that I am having.

I miss Ryan. Don't get me wrong, I miss him EVERY day, but today... today HURTS. I don't want to socialize, I don't want to prioritize, I don't want to do anything. It hit me fast. It hit me hard. This morning, I woke up and noticed that Ryan had posted a little "love you :D" comment on my facebook before he reported for his flight, and I just BEAMED. I skipped off to work with a smile on my face. All throughout my shift I walked around in the highest of spirits. Then, it was time to head home. I took a shower, put on the jersey he bought me, and laid down to watch Pirates of the Caribbean (it was on TV). And I fell apart. All I could think about was being in his room back at Fairchild. His jersey on, squished on his tiny bed, his arms wrapped tight around me, watching all of his random Netflix shows. I would give ANYTHING for that. Every minute of every hour of every day. I'd give anything for that.

I know I am supposed to be patient. I know that this comes with the lifestyle, but that doesn't mean that I can't have a rough time with it once in awhile. I wouldn't trade my Airman for anything. I regret no choice that I've made concerning him this time around. I don't regret waiting for him. I'd wait forever for him.

It's just hard.
Today it is hard.

But it is worth it.
I want him.
I want all of him.


I'm not going anywhere.

Home is Where the Giveaway is!

Once again, sorry I haven't been keeping up with the blogging! I just started school, and my two jobs again so I am a bit stretched for time O_o 

That being said, I am entering my first giveaway! 

Most, if not all of you follow Kelsey at http://kelseylaurenusaf.blogspot.com

So you most likely already know about the giveaway she is hosting! 

She is giving away Siobhan Fallon's book, "You Know When the Men are Gone."

(Which she said was fantastic by the way ;D)

 

Even if I don't come out victorious at the end of this, I plan on giving it a read :D

So get your behinds over to her page and fulfill all of the entrance requirements!

Oh, and today is Ryan and my anniversary! :D <3

I love you babe!